Home Gaming Flamebait Friday Debate: Where do you draw the line on micro-transactions?

Flamebait Friday Debate: Where do you draw the line on micro-transactions?

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As video game consumers, we’ve all grown both weary and wary of all the DLC in our games. I do, however, think that most of us have come to terms with the fact that it’s just part of the business model. There’s DLC that’s done right, of course – like The Witcher 3’s set of expansions that each offer more engaging content than some whole games.

But there’s a very different sort of DLC that’s permeated games. They’re perfectly acceptable in smaller games, and in free to play ones – but they’re increasingly starting to show up in full priced, retail ones. Yes, I’m talking about microtransactions – the sort that offer your characters more money, or XP – the sort of stuff you should be getting by playing the game.

DEMTs

The latest egregious offender in this regards is of course, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. It’s a single player game, so paying real money for in-game credit chips or the Praxis kits necessary to upgrade your augmentations only hurts the experience for the player.

Ars Technica’s written an entire editorial around it, saying

“As it turns out, the game’s publishers and developers slapped a paid-money system into the campaign mode, which makes DX:MD one of the rare modern $60-for-a-quest games where you can pay additional money to beef yourself up. You get two options in this regard: buy more in-game “credits,” which you use at the game’s shops to buy more weapons, ammo, and items, or buy “Praxis Kits,” which you spend on hero Adam Jensen’s cyborg-ability upgrades. Each time you level up, you get one Praxis Kit, and most upgrades require spending one to two Kits.”

It seems to be entirely publisher mandated, of course. When furore around these microtransactions first erupted, the game’s developers took to reddit to calm the storm. An Eidos community manager said that nobody need buy any of these to play through the game.

“We have not, and will never, compromise the balance of the game in order to direct people towards microtransactions. The game was balanced 100% independently of the microtransactions available in the store.

Remember when you could do this sort of thing by inputting cheat codes? Anyway, where do you draw the line on microtransactions? What’s okay and what’s not when it comes to wholly optional, but in-your-face monetisation in AAA games?

On hand, I don’t think it’s my place to tell people what do do with their money. If people want to spend money ruining this non-competitive game for themselves, that’s their prerogative.  On the other, it’d be far too easy for developers to slip in a few balance curves that’d make people feel like they needed to whip out their credit cards.

Last Updated: August 26, 2016

99 Comments

  1. Ottokie

    August 26, 2016 at 10:39

    If it’s in a AAA game, then you sir are standing right next to the sea and might as well get into it.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 26, 2016 at 11:03

      Best version of this I’ve ever read.

      Reply

  2. Gavin Mannion

    August 26, 2016 at 10:39

    micro transactions on entirely cosmetic items is my line… if you want to run around looking like the nightmarish result of the night between Homer and a dragon then go right ahead.

    But if it has any impact on the actual game, no matter how minuscule then I think you’ve got yourself a problem

    Reply

    • Kromas GG

      August 26, 2016 at 11:06

      This

      Reply

    • Deceased

      August 26, 2016 at 11:39

      P2W was the worst thing introduced into gaming!!!

      Reply

  3. PoisonedBelial

    August 26, 2016 at 10:39

    I draw the line when it’s a pay to win mechanic.
    The Deus Ex type does not hurt the standard game at all, and you can get by without it.

    That said, Micro transactions are a work of some sinister Spunk-Trumpet and they deserve to be burnt alive.

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 10:58

      I still feel the DX one cheapens the experience. Sure, it doesn’t change the game, but it also has no place there.

      Reply

  4. Umar

    August 26, 2016 at 10:39

    “We just want to give players more options. You don’t have to use real money, you can earn the currency in-game”
    Sure, let’s make you earn 1 gold coin every 30 hours, so in 30 000 hours you can buy 1 skin. At least they didn’t lie when they said you can earn the currency in-game.

    Reply

  5. konfab

    August 26, 2016 at 10:40

    Mankind is divided:
    Those who want micro-transations and those who don’t.

    Reply

  6. Alien Emperor Trevor

    August 26, 2016 at 10:46

    I’m pretty much at a point where I won’t spend any money on a game beyond the initial purchase price unless it adds something really substantial to the game. If that includes DLC at the time of purchase great, otherwise I probably won’t buy it further down the line.

    Witcher 3 I bought the expansions because they added a lot to the game, but with the latest Tomb Raider I just bought the main game & skipped all the DLC, incl the SP mission. Don’t see the point in spending a few R100s on the main game, and half that again on what’s usually just a bare-bones hour or 2 long SP DLC.

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 11:00

      I feel with games like Witcher 3 that are open world experiences it gives you the feeling that you’re just exploring more of it and experiencing more of it. With a linear game DLC has no place for me.

      Reply

  7. Commander Bob

    August 26, 2016 at 10:49

    Like many of the comments so far, I’m perfectly fine with micro-transactions for cosmetic items and/or boosters (xp, crafting, material etc). Basically something that doesn’t break the game i.e. time savers (like the assassin’s creed “dlc”).

    If the micro-transactions unlock game content (additional areas etc) that I cannot unlock by playing the game or by achieving some non-cash purchase conditions then I don’t agree with it and usually don’t bother playing the game.

    Reply

  8. Darren Peach

    August 26, 2016 at 10:51

    Strangely enough, I find that some DLC is bearable out of convenience. For example, I get credit from BT games to extend my PS plus account and have some credit left over, I might just buy that meaningless fluff gear…… But where I draw the line is the Overpriced season passes for COD and the like.

    Reply

  9. Dungeon of JJ

    August 26, 2016 at 10:56

    Micro transactions in F2P games are acceptable and they make sense, considering who they’re catering for. But MTs on SP games and full-priced co-op games is just BS.
    Sure, there will always be customers for it, and that’s why it’s there. But different to MTs in MP games, it cheapens the experience of an SP game.

    Reply

  10. Original Heretic

    August 26, 2016 at 10:57

    I’ll pay for DLC, that’s it.

    I hate the whole system of microtransactions, paying for stuff that you should be able to unlock in game.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      August 26, 2016 at 11:02

      Like I said, I agree with you, but for one exception: cosmetics.

      Reply

      • Original Heretic

        August 26, 2016 at 11:05

        Dunno hey, even that stuff, I think you should be able to unlock it in-game. Like, if you’ve played a game for a millium hours, you deserve to get the super gold awesome gun. Dedication should pay off, not wallet size.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 26, 2016 at 11:22

          Yeah, but what about F2P games? Like Dota2? You CAN unlock those in game, but you can also buy them. Works like a charm.

          PoE too, you can buy cosmetics. Has literally no effect on gameplay, but you can spend as much as you like on them. 100% fine by me too.

          In all cases though, if you care about cosmetics, you’ll either a) unlock them or b) buy them. I don’t think it’s bad to charge for them at all. Except in full priced retail games. That’s my line.

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            August 26, 2016 at 11:32

            If people want to spend money, I’m not stopping them. I just don’t always have the fund to throw around on stuff that I don’t need.
            I always do my best to make the distinction: want vs need. If I need, I’ll buy. If I want, I’ll bit my lip until I bleed!

        • Gavin Mannion

          August 26, 2016 at 11:24

          The other argument is that games now days have servers and infrastructure that needs to be maintained long after the games stop selling. So your R900 buys you a game and a MP experience.. 3 years down the line you still want to play MP but who’s covering those very real costs?

          This is where cosmetic DLC can fix the problem

          Reply

          • Original Heretic

            August 26, 2016 at 11:29

            Yeah, that’s a very good point.

            Suppose I’m just a cheap bastard that doesn’t like paying for something unless I really REALLY have to.

          • Gavin Mannion

            August 26, 2016 at 12:56

            I don’t like it either.. just not sure what the better solution is.. in game advertising between matches?

          • Original Heretic

            August 26, 2016 at 13:00

            Actually, I’ve been thinking about it. Your argument before is rock solid. Developers need to get their income or the game suffers.
            In fact, it’s an argument so good that I’ve actually made a conscious decision to spend money on stuff like that if I’m sinking numerous hours into a game. It’s only fair the the people who have given me many hours of joy.

      • HairyEwok

        August 26, 2016 at 12:34

        But but…. Skinzzz = Winzzz

        Reply

  11. Ottokie

    August 26, 2016 at 10:58

    Special skins and weapons should be rewarded for playing the game and achieving something.

    Reply

  12. Pariah

    August 26, 2016 at 11:02

    Cosmetics. I’ll pay for those. Make the game awesome. Make me want to customise the way it looks. And then I’ll pay you money. But not on a $60 SP game. Because fuck you, I’ve already paid. I’m looking at you BL2 – those skins were BS. Optional but BS.

    Reply

    • Darren Peach

      August 26, 2016 at 11:13

      Because fuck you…… 🙂

      Reply

  13. Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

    August 26, 2016 at 11:08

    $60 games shouldn’t have MT because you already bought the game. Including for cosmetics. Boring F2P games like Warframe can have as many as they want

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 11:10

      #shotsfired XD

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        August 26, 2016 at 11:11

        FFD, anything goes

        Reply

      • Ottokie

        August 26, 2016 at 11:12

        ¯_(?)_/¯

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      August 26, 2016 at 11:14

      You misspelled ‘awesome’

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        August 26, 2016 at 11:18

        I know I have issues with grammar, bit it’s not that bad

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          August 26, 2016 at 11:20

          Grammar was fine this time, spelling, atrocious, as usual
          😛

          I’ve spent R300 over an entire YEAR on the game, and it has given me at least 10 hours of entertainment per week.

          I lol at the guys buying the cosmetic fluff (like Otto), but I can make the ingame currency by selling TO the community, hence funding more ingame

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

            August 26, 2016 at 11:21

            Bronies needs to look pretty

          • Ottokie

            August 26, 2016 at 11:25

            ^this

          • Admiral Chief

            August 26, 2016 at 11:29

            We played this week, pink things EVERYWHERE!

            The ONLY thing not coloured like a unicorn’s sphincter is his Frost frame

          • Ottokie

            August 26, 2016 at 11:26

            I have spent a bit more…just a teeny tiny bit more.

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 11:15

      $60 games should also have something more than the basic exploration of a few quintilian planets 😛

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief

        August 26, 2016 at 11:15

        At least 18 more

        Reply

      • Ottokie

        August 26, 2016 at 11:15

        I kind of don’t mind. It serves as a good warning to any other indie dev’s out there that might try this crap

        Reply

        • Dungeon of JJ

          August 26, 2016 at 11:17

          That is true. Look, I still think the game is an incredible feat, and I will buy it in the future. But not for $60.

          Reply

          • Ottokie

            August 26, 2016 at 11:24

            I would have flipped some tables if the game sucked as much as it’s price. But I am really happy with the game just not the price 😛

      • Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0

        August 26, 2016 at 11:19

        Stopped playing for now. It’s all Deus Ex atm

        Reply

        • Dungeon of JJ

          August 26, 2016 at 11:22

          Aw yissss

          Reply

        • miaau

          August 26, 2016 at 11:34

          Yeah, I get it. very funny. “t’s all Deus Ex atm”

          Hah, hah. More a license to print than draw money, but still very funny.

          Reply

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 11:36

            LOL

  14. Dungeon of JJ

    August 26, 2016 at 11:13

    I think another thing to consider is the price of the MTs in a game. Marvel Heroes Online is F2P, so naturally it makes sense to have MTs, because, you know, companies exist to make profit…let’s not forget that.
    But, that said, if you want to buy a hero (that is not one of the few free ones), with a SINGLE costume, it can be anywhere between R60 and R200. For a single hero. Same thing happened in RaceRoom. If you have to pay the price (and more) of a regular game for one or two small MTs, then you’re being screwed over.

    Reply

    • miaau

      August 26, 2016 at 11:33

      Same with DC Universe and a few other free ones i have played. Getting a few items can easily outstrip the price of a full game.

      If one company does it, it is a problem. When all companies are doing it? That is called an industry.

      Reply

      • Dungeon of JJ

        August 26, 2016 at 11:35

        Yea, exactly that.

        Reply

  15. Krabby Paddy

    August 26, 2016 at 11:16

    I hate micro transactions but no matter how much we bitch and moan they will be included because there are too many people who buy them. I’ve accepted that the shop store will be in the main menu due to there being silly people in the world. I just don’t touch it.

    Reply

  16. james, lord of devonshire

    August 26, 2016 at 11:36

    I don’t believe in it. if I’ve paid twenty pounds for a console title, I want to keep the Micro-transactions out of sight and out of mind.

    Reply

  17. Yondaime

    August 26, 2016 at 11:36

    Micro transactions may suck my genitals.

    Reply

    • james, lord of devonshire

      August 26, 2016 at 11:37

      but first they have to hand over a five pound note, because Microtransactions.

      Reply

  18. Deceased

    August 26, 2016 at 11:38

    I don’t buy things in-game, never have, never will
    What’s the point of playing the game if I’m not grinding towards what I want
    ( In essence, the statement above describes life I guess )

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 11:43

      As long as it does not apply to how you approach your boss.
      Grinding is frowned upon, you know.

      Reply

      • Deceased

        August 26, 2016 at 11:53

        What?! All you do is put on that *unts unts unts* music and grind man – happens on a daily basis for some people :O

        Reply

        • Dungeon of JJ

          August 26, 2016 at 11:54

          LOOOL

          Reply

  19. miaau

    August 26, 2016 at 11:39

    “Where do you draw the line on micro-transactions?” . Too late to say Horse Armour?

    First of all, difference between MT and DLC, in my book. Also, when do MT’s becomes T’s? When you pay R400 for a superman outfit?

    All that said, I think somebody is going to make a lot of money out the MT’s in Mankind Divided….., despite all the negative publicity (and Steam reviews).

    Reply

  20. james, lord of devonshire

    August 26, 2016 at 11:46

    it’s probably because I’m thick but there have been some scenarios where I can’t tell the difference between MTs and DLCs.
    Square Enix locked off some weaponry in FF13-2, so they could get people to go onto PSN and spend tuppence to grab some improved gear, that should have been in the game. was this an example of MTs or DLC?

    Reply

    • miaau

      August 26, 2016 at 11:47

      I would say MT, i.e. adding items to the game or some other service, but keeping the gameplay the same

      A DLC, in my world, is a game expansion, updated mechanics, some new quests or a new character in a Bioware game, with associated quests.

      Reply

      • james, lord of devonshire

        August 26, 2016 at 11:49

        thank you. so basically if it’s actual noteworthy content, and not a bright pink bow that launches Moogles, then it becomes a DLC?

        Reply

        • miaau

          August 26, 2016 at 11:50

          Well, yes. Not an official definition, but just my take on it.

          I pay for DLC, when a few are out, but will not pay for MT’s.

          Reply

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 11:53

            I always go for “enhanced editions”, when I can find them at a knock-down price. still at that point in my life where I keep having to ask my father for money.

          • miaau

            August 26, 2016 at 11:55

            I do too, but sometimes I buy the GOTY (enhanced) even though I own the base game, just because it is cheaper than buying all the different DLC.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:04

            I wasn’t exaggerating about the Bow either. somebody actually thought that the design was alright.

      • Dungeon of JJ

        August 26, 2016 at 11:49

        I think DLC is just the modern word for an expansion pack of the old days.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          August 26, 2016 at 11:50

          Part x of expansion pack y.

          Reply

        • james, lord of devonshire

          August 26, 2016 at 11:50

          even then, those expansions haven’t always packed enough stuff to warrant the price tag. Skyrim Heartfire bought in house-building that didn’t work properly, and mods had been building their own houses for months.

          Reply

          • Pariah

            August 26, 2016 at 11:52

            Yeah one of the 3 houses didn’t work. But it’s a Bethesda game, known for bugs. There were far worse, game breaking bugs in the base game. I still enjoyed building my house in hearthfire. 🙂

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 11:53

            Yea, I had to switch off a mod before my house-building worked, but I really did have fun building it.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 11:54

            actually it was 2 of the houses in my game. one house was built beautifully, one didn’t even get planning permission and one had a vanishing steward. (got the house sorted then he must have buggered off to spain, or something)

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 11:55

            haha

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 11:56

            it was the Dawnstar house where the steward never turned up for work. checked all the locations where that glitch can send him, and there was no sign of him.

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 11:57

            Dawnstar was the only one I didn’t get (until very recently) and I haven’t tried it much yet.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:06

            oh it’s a lovely house, or at least it would have been if the property was more secure. I’d have been quite happy to build a giant wall around it, in order to ease my own paranoia about Giant attacks.

          • Pariah

            August 26, 2016 at 11:56

            lel, I had no issues with 2 of them. Just the one near that main city area that didn’t let me build a thing. No bug fix was ever released either.

            But even just the one house was enough for me. It was fun.

          • miaau

            August 26, 2016 at 11:57

            How realistic of them! Really, they do put forethought into these games, says the Marketing Department

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 11:58

            if I can get the PC version to work on one of my laptops, I’m going to see if I can turn the housing situation into an episode of Cowboy Builders.

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 11:53

            Yea, that’s quite true. In my eyes DLC is supposed to be like the old expansion packs, sadly they’re not always and MTs is only acceptable for me in a Free to Play game.

          • Pariah

            August 26, 2016 at 11:54

            Yeah I kinda agree with that. F2P games are fine. It’s the retail ones that piss me off.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:02

            suddenly being reminded of Red Alert 2’s expansion, Yuri’s Revenge. new campaigns, Yuri now has his own faction, all sides have new units, and the game is just different enough from RA2 that I struggle to play it.

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 12:13

            Yes, wow. I remember

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:15

            Guardian GIs. get them dug in around a choke-point and watch the fire-works.

          • Dungeon of JJ

            August 26, 2016 at 12:17

            Ah man. They don’t make good strategy games like they used to.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:28

            just trying to do something quickly. managed to piss off one of Skyrim’s ancient dragons, and I’m not actually ready for it because I’m not carrying any dragon gear.

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 12:49

            one dead ancient dragon. crippled him, put a rock between me and him, then fired forty arrows at him.

          • miaau

            August 26, 2016 at 12:55

            good feeling, that. Not quite ready, but still, somehow, scraped through!

          • james, lord of devonshire

            August 26, 2016 at 13:02

            my guy is having to use glass weapons because his smithing is nowhere near good enough to craft anything useful. downside of this is that his best weapon is only doing forty damage. I need Chillrend but that has to wait until everything else is sorted.

  21. chimera_85

    August 26, 2016 at 12:01

    I don’t have a line, I have a border that I never cross- never have and never will use microtransactions.

    Reply

  22. Greylingad[He Charges!]

    August 26, 2016 at 12:08

    My question is, when? When did we as gamers adhere to the MT model? I’m sure every single one of us has, if not only to burn our fingers while doing so…
    It’s a sickness that’s infected the gaming industry, for as long as people support it, it will continue to grow, even in a game that is so good as Mankind Divided, the MTs sour, no, they ruin the taste left in your mouth to something resembling burnt charcoal mixed with the taste of iron as you realise the taste of blood in your mouth….
    I hope one day that this will just fly over, that a publisher will pull back and say, you know what, we’re sorry we did this…

    Reply

    • Dungeon of JJ

      August 26, 2016 at 12:15

      I agree, and hope that companies like CDPR will inspire others to be better.

      Reply

  23. CrasH

    August 26, 2016 at 12:20

    The issue to me is not the micro-transactions, you release a game and then new and interesting stuff or cosmetic items gets added that were shelved or unfinished in the final product. Same with proper DLC and Expansions. Add value to the game that revitalizes the experience or changes it totally.

    The issue i have is that these days this is not the case, the season pass, expansion, dlc and other can be bought before the game is even completed with some even giving you dlc for a new game comming out by buying another game now?

    Sure you have a window to make money on a new game and the longer you take to push extra items, the less likely it is to sell as gone are the days where you play a game for months on end, because you are focused on the next new thing, but all that said, It’s getting to the point where it feels item that was originally destined for the game was removed to be put behind pay walls. Even some expansions feels like it was suppose to be the actual end story, hence some games have bad endings and dlc endings are good?

    Reply

  24. The Order of the Banana

    August 26, 2016 at 12:25

    I don’t have to draw the line, my wallet is as empty as the inside of Jacob Zuma’s skull.

    Reply

  25. Skittle

    August 26, 2016 at 12:32

    Cosmetics are okay. Pay to win is like cancer spreading through a Chernobyl employee.

    Reply

  26. Frost

    August 26, 2016 at 13:25

    “The game was balanced 100% independently of the microtransactions available in the store.” – This coming from the developer means I trust it as much as anything Donald Trump says.

    Even if it’s true, what stops them from adding a balance curve via a patch after all the good reviews flows in?

    Reply

  27. Gonçalves

    August 28, 2016 at 22:01

  28. Dane

    August 29, 2016 at 10:42

    I’m not one for MTs, but look what they have done for the biggest games in the industry: CS:GO, DOTA 2, LOL. As an investment into the gaming industry I’m happy to watch truck loads of cash pour through those siphons. Profit margin and game-unbalancing MTs can just go to hell.

    Reply

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