4 ms·

This is a gross deformation of what a game should be. We've hit the point where many applications that claim to be games are more like gambling for electronic

by iaw 9y ago

This is a gross deformation of what a game should be. We've hit the point where many applications that claim to be games are more like gambling for electronic rewards, this presentation unabashedly pushes things farther away from the historic value proposition offered by games (enjoyment) and closer to the present value proposition offered by gambling (rewarding compulsivity).

anonytrary 9y ago
TLDR: There are two ways to justify progress in a game: proof-of-play and proof-of-pay. Stay away from games that allow the latter if you like your money. --- Yeah this is the problem with pay-to-win games. Pay-to-win often becomes pay-to-resell-equips-for-a-profit, which is just gambling on the future value of those in-game digital tokens, items, and currency. Without a good game underneath, it eventually becomes one big valueless scheme. Pay-to-play is often implemented in such a way that it is actually pay-to-win. A really good bullshit test on any video game is to first ask which category it falls under: 1. Pay-to-play (sufficiently constant join-fee, this is fine.) 2. Pay-to-win (DANGER!) 3. Free-to-play (often implies paying for cosmetics, this is fine.) One should carefully understand all value streams associated with a particular game, specifically when real currency goes into the system, what comes out? Some red flags that indicate a game may be pay-to-win: 1. You can buy EXP 2. You can buy better gear 3. You can buy scrolls that allow you to progress much faster (exp boosts, spawn increases, item drop rate increases, etc.) 4. You can skip levels with money Put simply, if Kim Jong-un can walk into the game and be the best player in under 72 hours, then the game is probably a waste of time. MMO games need to be done right, there can't be sudden phase-change events like a new player suddenly becoming the best player because they bought $84,000 in items from the cash shop (twinking is fine, since it can be backed by proof-of-play).
TeMPOraL 9y ago
Games used to be made by people thinking of them as art/entertainment; people who wanted to give players the most fun they can, and expected some compensation in return for hard work. The market has matured now, and (AAA) games are made as a business. They are a proxy for your wallet, and the "art/entertainment" part is now not the core value, but an incidental flavour, a different makeup on a pig.

by iaw 9y ago

anonytrary 9y ago

TLDR: There are two ways to justify progress in a game: proof-of-play and proof-of-pay. Stay away from games that allow the latter if you like your money. --- Yeah this is the problem with pay-to-win games. Pay-to-win often becomes pay-to-resell-equips-for-a-profit, which is just gambling on the future value of those in-game digital tokens, items, and currency. Without a good game underneath, it eventually becomes one big valueless scheme. Pay-to-play is often implemented in such a way that it is actually pay-to-win. A really good bullshit test on any video game is to first ask which category it falls under: 1. Pay-to-play (sufficiently constant join-fee, this is fine.) 2. Pay-to-win (DANGER!) 3. Free-to-play (often implies paying for cosmetics, this is fine.) One should carefully understand all value streams associated with a particular game, specifically when real currency goes into the system, what comes out? Some red flags that indicate a game may be pay-to-win: 1. You can buy EXP 2. You can buy better gear 3. You can buy scrolls that allow you to progress much faster (exp boosts, spawn increases, item drop rate increases, etc.) 4. You can skip levels with money Put simply, if Kim Jong-un can walk into the game and be the best player in under 72 hours, then the game is probably a waste of time. MMO games need to be done right, there can't be sudden phase-change events like a new player suddenly becoming the best player because they bought $84,000 in items from the cash shop (twinking is fine, since it can be backed by proof-of-play).

TeMPOraL 9y ago

Games used to be made by people thinking of them as art/entertainment; people who wanted to give players the most fun they can, and expected some compensation in return for hard work. The market has matured now, and (AAA) games are made as a business. They are a proxy for your wallet, and the "art/entertainment" part is now not the core value, but an incidental flavour, a different makeup on a pig.