4 ms·

Microtransactions is a generic term. Microtransactions can be purely cosmetic like skins, so it doesn't matter when it comes to gameplay, or extensions which ha

Microtransactions is a generic term. Microtransactions can be purely cosmetic like skins, so it doesn't matter when it comes to gameplay, or extensions which had levels/story/whatever to an existing game. So microtransactions aren't bad, especially in a free 2 play game. What EA and co are doing on the other hand is different, it's called 'pay 2 win', the more you pay, the easier it gets to win whatever you have to win in that game (or progress faster). The latter is a questionable practice. Pay 2 win games should absolutely be regulated and be 18+ only.

smichel17 6y ago
Funny aside about abbreviations, I've seldom seen it written with a 2 that way. Usually either "free to play // pay to win" or "f2p // p2w".
Technically 6y ago
Putting microtransactions in a free to play game seems like an inherent contradiction. If there's a transaction, it's not free, it's just what people used to call demos or shareware—you get a small slice for free, the rest you pay for. Note that there are a ton of games out there that are actually free to play and won't ever gate content behind paywalls.
falcolas 6y ago
Apologies, but you just hit on a pet peeve. If cosmetics didn’t matter, why are they such lucrative items to sell? Cosmetics were once the reward for playing the game, not for spending money. And the look of your in-game avatar matters - has always mattered - to a vast majority of players. The reward for playing the game now? Getting the opportunity to spend more money.
- hnick 6y ago
  Exactly, gamers have gone from thinking horse armor is stupid to now accepting "only cosmetic" and it's a problem. Are you going to put better looking items in the game for free if you could charge $20 in the store? Are you going to spend time writing an engaging and rewarding quest line when you can just throw a price tag on it? Games do need content so they won't do this for everything, but the mere existence of a cash shop and MTX is a perverse incentive on development quality. It also often ruins the cosmetic experience of the rest of us, with knights running around wearing angel wings for some weird reason. That aside, Jim Sterling brought up something I hadn't even considered since I'm too old. Kids getting bullied because their Fortnite characters only have the default skins and they can't afford (or aren't allowed) to buy anything else. "Only cosmetic" indeed!
smaryjerry 6y ago
No doubt pay to win games are not competitive, but they also usually aren’t deceptive. It’s not any more of a problem ethically than cosmetic micro transactions. The only things that should be 18+ are loot boxes regardless if they cosmetic or result in pay to win. Both are gambling for a random chance at rewards. Inserting the ability to buy those boxes with money rather than earn them is what makes the gambling detrimental to people. Of course that assumes gambling is bad when in reality only addiction to gambling is bad. By 18 adults should be taught about addiction in schools and so loot boxes should be available by then. Credit cards used to limit how much kids could spend online because you had to be 18, but now kids can easily go into every store and by a prepaid Visa card or gift card for just about any online service for cash, including formerly at toys r us.

smichel17 6y ago

Funny aside about abbreviations, I've seldom seen it written with a 2 that way. Usually either "free to play // pay to win" or "f2p // p2w".

Technically 6y ago

Putting microtransactions in a free to play game seems like an inherent contradiction. If there's a transaction, it's not free, it's just what people used to call demos or shareware—you get a small slice for free, the rest you pay for. Note that there are a ton of games out there that are actually free to play and won't ever gate content behind paywalls.

falcolas 6y ago

Apologies, but you just hit on a pet peeve. If cosmetics didn’t matter, why are they such lucrative items to sell? Cosmetics were once the reward for playing the game, not for spending money. And the look of your in-game avatar matters - has always mattered - to a vast majority of players. The reward for playing the game now? Getting the opportunity to spend more money.

hnick 6y ago
Exactly, gamers have gone from thinking horse armor is stupid to now accepting "only cosmetic" and it's a problem. Are you going to put better looking items in the game for free if you could charge $20 in the store? Are you going to spend time writing an engaging and rewarding quest line when you can just throw a price tag on it? Games do need content so they won't do this for everything, but the mere existence of a cash shop and MTX is a perverse incentive on development quality. It also often ruins the cosmetic experience of the rest of us, with knights running around wearing angel wings for some weird reason. That aside, Jim Sterling brought up something I hadn't even considered since I'm too old. Kids getting bullied because their Fortnite characters only have the default skins and they can't afford (or aren't allowed) to buy anything else. "Only cosmetic" indeed!

smaryjerry 6y ago

No doubt pay to win games are not competitive, but they also usually aren’t deceptive. It’s not any more of a problem ethically than cosmetic micro transactions. The only things that should be 18+ are loot boxes regardless if they cosmetic or result in pay to win. Both are gambling for a random chance at rewards. Inserting the ability to buy those boxes with money rather than earn them is what makes the gambling detrimental to people. Of course that assumes gambling is bad when in reality only addiction to gambling is bad. By 18 adults should be taught about addiction in schools and so loot boxes should be available by then. Credit cards used to limit how much kids could spend online because you had to be 18, but now kids can easily go into every store and by a prepaid Visa card or gift card for just about any online service for cash, including formerly at toys r us.