4 ms·

My biggest problem with games ads and ads in software/apps in general is that devs nowadays will add them even when you are paying for the product/game. So the

My biggest problem with games ads and ads in software/apps in general is that devs nowadays will add them even when you are paying for the product/game. So the old say that if you not paying then you are the product is no longer valid. Because in many scenarios now you are paying and are the product at the same time. The traditional arguments about monetization is now hard to swallow from consumer perspective because of the tendency to think, why not on adding ads.

nottorp 2y ago
It's easy. Just skip the games with IAPs and ads. Doesn't matter if they're free or for pay, just skip them.
- elashri 2y ago
  That's what I do regarding games (I don't play that much anyway and tend to stick to few) but the trend is going in this direction for everything. And what does not have ads/IAPs where you purchase doesn't mean they will not include some down the line.
  - nottorp 2y ago
    On the app side they seem to be trying for subscriptions first. In a few years some "solo founder" will post something insightful about being able to sell offline applications as a one time purchase instead of trying to convince or trick people into subscribing. And they'll present it as a new discovery that will "revolutionize the software market".
- junon 2y ago
  Problem is that you don't know this until you've bought the game, and that creates incentive for the developer to only include them after the refund period.
  - nottorp 2y ago
    Umm aren't the IAPs clearly marked? On the ios app store at least. On Steam I only buy based on 3rd party mentions/reviews so I don't really know what's written on the storefront if it's a free to play game because I've never been to the storefront of a free to play game. I never preorder btw. Okay, with two exceptions: FromSoft single player games (not getting the new multiplayer thingy) and Kojima. Until they burn me too.
    - Suzuran 2y ago
      No, not at all. I have several games on my "I Wasted My Money" pile where IAPs or in-game advertisements were added in patches well after release. Edit: This practice is why policies such as this one being enacted are now necessary. Were it not for policies preventing these sort of practices, they would be far more common.
      - nottorp 2y ago
        Hmm it only happened to me once. When EA bought popcap and the turned my plants vs zombies for iOS into an IAP fest. That made me notice that most mobile games have turned free to play and I simply stopped looking for them. No more gaming on my iPad. Would you mind naming and shaming your own "I Wasted My Money" pile if it's PC titles?
        Suzuran 2y ago
        The problem is that I would have to remember them all; It's a metaphorical pile, not a literal one. A large majority are games where the DRM no longer works for whatever reason (Silent Hunter 3 and 4 come to mind), but games where malware/microtransactions/etc. were added after release or not disclosed prior to release included Civilization 6 and Red Orchestra 2. IIRC the latter game specifically is why Valve added the ability to read the EULA prior to purchase, as the ads were only disclosed in the EULA and the EULA was available only after purchase. (Edit: I don't consider piracy/cracks a solution to DRM. Solutions solve problems. Piracy and cracks are workarounds at best. The problem is still there.)
- barrkel 2y ago
  With the modern trend of continuous updating of software, how can you expect MBAs to leave money on the table and not add ads after the fact?
  - nottorp 2y ago
    Easy enough, I skip certain game development companies by default. At the start because they insisted on having an account with them to play single player, but I think they've evolved into predatory IAPs while i wasn't looking at their titles. Talking about EA, Ubisoft and Rockstar here. It helps that the same MBAs do design by commitee to appeal to the largest audience possible and end up with a boring soup. Maybe not Rockstar, but they managed to wean me off GTA with all that pushing for GTA online.

nottorp 2y ago

It's easy. Just skip the games with IAPs and ads. Doesn't matter if they're free or for pay, just skip them.

elashri 2y ago
That's what I do regarding games (I don't play that much anyway and tend to stick to few) but the trend is going in this direction for everything. And what does not have ads/IAPs where you purchase doesn't mean they will not include some down the line.
- nottorp 2y ago
  On the app side they seem to be trying for subscriptions first. In a few years some "solo founder" will post something insightful about being able to sell offline applications as a one time purchase instead of trying to convince or trick people into subscribing. And they'll present it as a new discovery that will "revolutionize the software market".
junon 2y ago
Problem is that you don't know this until you've bought the game, and that creates incentive for the developer to only include them after the refund period.
- nottorp 2y ago
  Umm aren't the IAPs clearly marked? On the ios app store at least. On Steam I only buy based on 3rd party mentions/reviews so I don't really know what's written on the storefront if it's a free to play game because I've never been to the storefront of a free to play game. I never preorder btw. Okay, with two exceptions: FromSoft single player games (not getting the new multiplayer thingy) and Kojima. Until they burn me too.
  - Suzuran 2y ago
    No, not at all. I have several games on my "I Wasted My Money" pile where IAPs or in-game advertisements were added in patches well after release. Edit: This practice is why policies such as this one being enacted are now necessary. Were it not for policies preventing these sort of practices, they would be far more common.
    - nottorp 2y ago
      Hmm it only happened to me once. When EA bought popcap and the turned my plants vs zombies for iOS into an IAP fest. That made me notice that most mobile games have turned free to play and I simply stopped looking for them. No more gaming on my iPad. Would you mind naming and shaming your own "I Wasted My Money" pile if it's PC titles?
      - Suzuran 2y ago
        The problem is that I would have to remember them all; It's a metaphorical pile, not a literal one. A large majority are games where the DRM no longer works for whatever reason (Silent Hunter 3 and 4 come to mind), but games where malware/microtransactions/etc. were added after release or not disclosed prior to release included Civilization 6 and Red Orchestra 2. IIRC the latter game specifically is why Valve added the ability to read the EULA prior to purchase, as the ads were only disclosed in the EULA and the EULA was available only after purchase. (Edit: I don't consider piracy/cracks a solution to DRM. Solutions solve problems. Piracy and cracks are workarounds at best. The problem is still there.)
barrkel 2y ago
With the modern trend of continuous updating of software, how can you expect MBAs to leave money on the table and not add ads after the fact?
- nottorp 2y ago
  Easy enough, I skip certain game development companies by default. At the start because they insisted on having an account with them to play single player, but I think they've evolved into predatory IAPs while i wasn't looking at their titles. Talking about EA, Ubisoft and Rockstar here. It helps that the same MBAs do design by commitee to appeal to the largest audience possible and end up with a boring soup. Maybe not Rockstar, but they managed to wean me off GTA with all that pushing for GTA online.