smurphdogg
Neo Member
A cold move.
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Overwatch marks a new low in Unlocking and Microtransaction systems that I'm aware of
- Thread starter Saty
- Start date
PedroLumpy
Member
Holy crap, where were all of you when they started putting weapons/skills behind XP grinds, while selling coin boosters and all that other treadmill bullshit in every full priced game. Unbelievable that we get a game with all the gameplay stuff available to everyone right off that bat and people freak out.
Really would have been nice to have seen that kind of passion when unlock grinds were first becoming a thing.
Really would have been nice to have seen that kind of passion when unlock grinds were first becoming a thing.
HP_Wuvcraft
Banned
But we're being forced to buy these games.
If you know how to use GAF's search function, I'm pretty sure you'd find a lot of these threads, they usually don't have as many people defending MTs though.
They usually don't have microtransactions that innocuous, and the ones that do usually DO get defended quite heavily.
One of the nice things about the loot system is that it preserves some of the rarity involved with having a cosmetic item. While an unlock system more centered around gameplay achievements could serve as an alternative, they're usually a bad fit for multiplayer games. The crate system fits the philosophy of just playing the game and enjoying it. If you get stuff you want, neat. If you don't, no big deal.
Atraveller
Banned
I bought 15 lootboxes.
KojiKnight
Member
I just wish all of my unlocks from beta had stayed... I'll miss you young hanzo, I'll miss you fireman mei.
I'll buy 50 lootboxes in three days, for my B-Day, just because of this thread. Marks a new low for my wallet but at least my heroes will look pretty.
bought 50. almost enough cash to buy two legendaries.. and I got Soldier 76's spirit of 76 costume (one of the best in the game, even though I don't play him much) a couple of highlight intros, one of my legs was cash (for those wondering, I believe it's 50 for rare, 150 for epic, and 500 for leg payouts), a bunch of emotes, and a ton of victory poses.
all in all not bad.
I also got one legendary (bastion steambot) from leveling up to like 7 now.
you don't get a lot from dupes.. 5-15 it seems though it's all been common dupes mostly I believe. Will try to pay attention when I get rare or higher dupes.
I can't believe people are complaining about an online game that is 100% "buy once to play forever" that's being supported by completely optional, affecting gameplay in no way, cosmetic MTAs..
all in all not bad.
I also got one legendary (bastion steambot) from leveling up to like 7 now.
you don't get a lot from dupes.. 5-15 it seems though it's all been common dupes mostly I believe. Will try to pay attention when I get rare or higher dupes.
I can't believe people are complaining about an online game that is 100% "buy once to play forever" that's being supported by completely optional, affecting gameplay in no way, cosmetic MTAs..
zombieshavebrains
I have not used cocaine
Didn't you do that by buying the game?
Who says I can't give them more if I feel like they deserve it?
It's why I say tipping, since I have already payed the base price itself.
I cant believe people pay to make their fake person say a stupid line in a game. There is nothing in the game that makes you needs anything they sell, a new 'hat' will not change your experience...people just love to drop a few bucks on these things though, they know it...profit.
Don't like it? don't buy it, it effects your game play zero.
Don't like it? don't buy it, it effects your game play zero.
KojiKnight
Member
That's not how 'tips' work.
zombieshavebrains
I have not used cocaine
No one. I've spent money to dress up my barbie dolls in Dota and that's completely free to play.
But for pay to play games with microtransactions it just feels like you have to pay the 40-60 bucks to unlock the ability to give them more money. Maybe it was activisions policy or something because Its like Blizzard refuses to go with the Dota business model. Hearthstone/HotS are pay to be competitive and Overwatch is pay to play forever with microtransactions.
Overwatch could have been free to play with microtransactions but it might be one of those things the American market doesn't see value in things that they don't have to pay for.
If it's purely cosmetic stuff that's behind a micro transaction system and not something which impacts gameplay then I don't have a problem with it. I can see why it frustrates people if they feel content is being gated off or they aren't getting decent value for money but as long as it doesn't mess with game balance its cool with me.
I mean, you could argue your point in a reasonable fashion, or you could just go full blast like this. What do you gain by making such ridiculous exaggerations and over generalizations? "Pay to play forever with microtransactions"? I mean come on
You realize that an online game that is hosted by the developers isn't free for the developers to maintain right? They need to pay for their servers and keep the game profitable. They can either do this by selling new content packs or harmless microtransactions. Which one would you prefer?
MarcoZombieCannon
Member
It's not even being gated off, is the best part. All the cosmetics are random drops from crates you get from playing, or you can pay for more crates and more chances.
I also don't know where this narrative of "oh either there would be a season pass or microtransactions" started. Because that shit is just flat out made up and is being run around everywhere unless someone from Blizzard came out and said it.
KojiKnight
Member
So which way that blizzard has done microtransactions in a pay title do you think is better?
WoW's pay $15 for a pretty horse with zero ways to unlock that horse besides paying that money...
Or Overwatch's pay money for boxes with a random chance to get it OR enough currency to buy it BUT you're able to earn those boxes for free over time just by playing?
Or option C get base game up front, but pay for full priced expansions ($40+) down the line, for new maps/characters, and have to pay extra for a CE/LE that contains the extra outfits
WoW's pay $15 for a pretty horse with zero ways to unlock that horse besides paying that money...
Or Overwatch's pay money for boxes with a random chance to get it OR enough currency to buy it BUT you're able to earn those boxes for free over time just by playing?
Or option C get base game up front, but pay for full priced expansions ($40+) down the line, for new maps/characters, and have to pay extra for a CE/LE that contains the extra outfits
wipeout364
Member
A and C. I feel like games that use chance for stuff that require money are really just supporting gambling and probably take advantage of many people who have addictive tendencies which is sad.
Mass Appeal
Member
You don't seem to understand what a FTP game is. Those games have actual content like weapons and maps that you need to pay extra for. Stuff that changes the gameplay. OW has NONE of that....
Hate to break this to you but there is some sort of MTAs in every game you play today and not just those developers you mentioned. Naughty Dog, Konami, Bungie, and 2k all have MTAs and some of those are actually MTAs that help you gain and advantage in multiplayer plus they ask you for money for a season pass for future dlc. Would you rather have Blizzard do a season pass where you have to pay $30-50 extra for future dlc? Because in today's world of gaming, that would be the other option.
Everyone knows MTAs are not the best thing for gaming but how OW is doing it is probably the best way. There not asking money for future dlc or even forcing you to buy MTAs because you can earn everything by leveling up and playing the game. They are giving the gamer an option and people will buy those loot boxes which helps fund all the free post gsme support. I personally don't have any intentions of buying loot boxes but if people want to its their money plus it's helping me because Blizzard will continue to give us free maps, heroes, and modes for the future all funded by MTAs that you don't have to spend any eztra money on.
Wow good thing we have different opinions because season passes to me are BS. Give me OW MTAs that are all purely cosmetic any day.
Kawaii Slayer
Banned
I think OP is looking into it far too deeply, but honestly, Microtransactions are becoming a pain. Not to mention the drop rates on legendary items are so extraordinarily low as well.
I do have one issue though. There's NO other way to unlock loot crates in game except via leveling, I think that's a pretty annoying decision. For the crap people give Call of Duty, they're smart enough to add in a contract system (eventually (It's in the works now.)) I think OW could use this but even then I'd be nitpicking. For what it's worth I think Black Ops 3 did it better than OW (even with the weapons which are very much weaker than every other weapon in the category minus pistols).
I do have one issue though. There's NO other way to unlock loot crates in game except via leveling, I think that's a pretty annoying decision. For the crap people give Call of Duty, they're smart enough to add in a contract system (eventually (It's in the works now.)) I think OW could use this but even then I'd be nitpicking. For what it's worth I think Black Ops 3 did it better than OW (even with the weapons which are very much weaker than every other weapon in the category minus pistols).
Mass Appeal
Member
I would hate if OW did it like Black ops 3 which imo is a pay to win model plus they have a season pass where you have to spend an extra 50 for content down the line. I played a good amount of BO3 and spent some time in the OT here. I think the majority hate how they have actual weapons, which one of them is pretty fucking OP, are locked behind random loot drops. That imo is a FAR, FAR worse then what OW is doing.
Blizzard could add an update to the game where something like challenges like contracts in BO3 could earn you more loot boxes but the game hasn't even been out for a week yet while BO3 has been out for quite some time now..
Got this from the OT of BO3.
"Coming soon, players will be able to complete other challenges in the form of Daily and Weekly Black Market Contracts for in-game rewards - stay tuned for more in the coming weeks. Best of all, Black Market Contracts are independent of the Season Pass Bonus, giving Season Pass holders a chance to effectively double their number of Weapon Bribes and Rare Supply Drops."
The bolded imo is a horrible practice. How is that anyway better then what OW is doing ? That's some pay 2 win bullshit at its finest.
I mean, those microtransactions aren't forced onto you by any extent, I admit it took me up until my 5th box to actually notice the shop button.
As far as the business model goes, eh, I think there's a reason why they couldn't go for an F2P model with microtransactions that goes beyond simple greed. Maybe it's harder to maintain dedicated servers for a competitive shooter than it is to maintain servers for a MOBA, maybe they didn't want to rely their whole business model on people having to pay for microtransactions to maintain the game, maybe something else.
Either way however I don't feel like I had to pay just to give them more money. I enjoyed the closed beta, liked the game, bought it and now just feel this is a really good game and I'm really enjoying it so I'm gonna toss some more money their way not because I feel like I need to get those loot boxes by any extent, hell I don't give two shits abouts cosmetics, but as said because I feel like Blizzard deserve it for their work and if it contributes to keeping the Microtransaction model minimal and optional like that while funding future content actually relevant to the gameplay to the extent that it will be free for everyone, then yeah, so be it.
lol
People complaining about this is just really fucked up IMO. Loot boxes just offers bonus stuff, it doesn't affect the game in any way possible. Compare this to games like cod that actually sells new guns etc for microtransactions. Overwatch is more like GTA Online, it offers everything for free but bonus stuff that u can get on your own is available for microtransactions if you have bad patience.
I came dangerously close to actually buying some loot boxes a couple of days ago. But luckily, the free ones I obtained via level-ups since then included enough credits that I now have all the stuff I really wanted for the only character I care about. So no desire to buy any anymore.
There's an interesting thought here. The MOBA model is what it is because of LoL and MOBA players have accepted that. The f2p shooter model is different because of Valve but Valve also sees pure profit from Steam allowing them to use that profit to support DOTA2 and TF2 (on top of cosmetics). My guess is the quote above is right. Blizzard doesn't have a Steam-like pure profit revenue source to funnel money into a true f2p game (i.e. cosmetics only). And while MOBA players accept the LoL model, in a shooter that model would probably kill the longevity and success. So yeah.. fair point. Blizz probably uses the money from first sales on top of the cosmetics for as fair of a model as possible.
shadowstar
Member
Overwatch isn't F2P because character switching and counters mid match is a big part of the gameplay. If players didn't have access to all characters at all times, it would ruin the gameplay. TF2 is free to play but it doesn't have 21 characters with more coming.
"Sorry I can't be Lucio, I only have Mercy."
"Sorry I can't be Lucio, I only have Mercy."
99% of the speech in the game is built into the game, the 'voice' you unlock is basically like a taunt or a spray - an extra quip you can spam in appropriate moments for fun.
I had it bound to my mumble push to talk for a while, so I'd be playing with friends talking and constantly spamming shit like "SHOT DOWN!" and "Encore?"
You can only equip one at a time per character and just like sprays they are the cheapest unlockables in the game. Once you've played for even a couple hours you can afford whichever ones you really want with credits, gauranteed. They're also all common and you'll get tons just opening boxes.
Not even though, it's vastly more 'fair' than hearthstone. Hearthstone your player power is directly controlled by the unlocks, and it takes like thousands of hours of grinding if you're not spending money to get everything you might want. Prices in gold are vastly higher relative t how long it takes to earn, etc. Like every other F2P game.
This would be like if card backs were unlocks in hearthstone and took a few games to randomly get one.
... tipping? Man, I feel out of touch with this side of gaming.
I honestly think the microtransactions are as good as useless. You unlock boxes really quick and get good stuff out of it so there is no need at all to buy boxes. That in a way makes it worse. It's not that I think the mircotransactions should actually worth something but it's the fact that they are useless and they still put them in that makes the game as a result feel cheap(not as in gameplay but in the product itself) and bothers me.
Also isn't general gaming in a broad sense just Skinner Boxes? Or am I completely misunderstanding the whole concept?
It's the urge to be unique. You're playing against thousands of other players, all using the same hero, the same attacks, the same lines, over and over again. Cosmetics let people express themselves within the game, and for people who enjoy them, it does make a difference to the experience.
Dick Justice
Banned
Yeah, you waste your money on pointless shit. That'll definitely show those pesky internet complainers!
Dick Justice
Banned
Witcher 3 has microtransactions, huh?
Seeing as I just paid 25 bucks for the expansions, yes it effectively has microtransactions. (Contrast with overwatch giving everything away for free).
Dick Justice
Banned
Expansion packs are not microtransactions. Do try and learn what the difference is. You'd maybe have a point if their minor DLC packs cost money. But they don't, so you don't.
I understand the difference, the point is you want more content in the game you have to pay for it. With Overwatch you don't even have to do that, you MAY pay for some extra bullshit you can already earn at a reasonable rate.
In The Witcher 3 there is nothing I can do to possibly get Blood and Wine for free. FUCKING WORST MICROTRANSACTION SYSTEM EVER!
Dick Justice
Banned
The rest of your post tells me that no, you don't understand the difference between microtransactions and expansion packs. So I'm done arguing.
Good, since in four successive posts, you've made a fantastic ammount of zero arguments so far.
Dick Justice
Banned
Difficult to make proper arguments when the other side is so lackluster to begin with. Also the irony of your own useless post is not lost on me.
The lacklustre side that was telling you that the only difference between W3 and Overwatch is in that Witcher 3 requires you to pay upfront for future content whereas Overwatch does the same by fiancing it through optional cosmetic purchases which you apparently didn't understood? Sure.
Don't be, I don't regard it as something common either.
But here I just think it's the appropriate thing to call it.
Anton Sugar
Member
True, but that's probably because Siege has a fraction of the audience. Almost every "I love Siege and here's why" thread had a lot of "but the microtransactions!!!" posts, as well as "not paying full price for no SP".
This doesn't really align with the stats that Ubi used to determine the amount of renown required, unless you're (no offense) constantly losing and not getting much renown.
Ubi said:
They've said that about 25 hours of play should be enough to unlock a *new* DLC operator. If a new season/set of operators comes every 3 months (12 weeks), that should be plenty of time to unlock both by the time the next DLC rolls around.
HOWEVER--this really is only feasible if:
a)you have played Siege since launch (you're accruing renown from the beginning and don't have to "catch up"
b)you consistently play every (which, even for a gospel-spreading Siege fan like me, isn't feasible)
It's not perfect and there is a certain aspect of it that certainly encourages "if you don't want to, or just don't, play that much, it's faster to buy the Season Pass.
Overwatch's method is superior and more consumer-friendly, for sure. However, a lot of the furor over Siege (which was not just from random gaffers, but respected sites like GiantBomb that completely misrepresented the game at launch) is undeserved for similar reasons.
If every game adopted Overwatch's DLC/microtransaction model (that is, IF one is necessary), the gaming world would be a better place.
Preach.
Is it really arguing when all you're doing is screaming loudly without making a point at all, and making NO effort to actually understand what is being said back at you?
Exactly this. Content requires funding. Period. It can be funded upfront by players, ALA Witcher 3 expansion packs, or it can be funded by microtransactions that are optional ALA Overwatch and most F2P games. The difference between an F2P game and Overwatch is the extreme gulf in the severity of the microtransactions and their impact on the game itself. 60 bucks one time GUARANTEES you all of the relevant content (heroes, maps, game mods) for the life of the product, while the same kind of shit that you buy in even single player games (outfits, cosmetic bullshit, xp boosters essentially in the form of loot crates), are STILL available for free at a perfectly fine rate of acquisition despite also being for sale. That's the most fair type of microtransaction on the planet.
