Ryse: Son of Rome is one of Xbox One’s launch titles, and has garnered a lot of attention. Sure, it looks pretty cool, but now we hear that it will have microtransactions for multiplayer. Um, are you guys sure you want to do that with a launch title meant to win people over?
Ryse’s multiplayer progression is based on armor. As explained to Videogamer.com at Gamescom:
“The way that you get armour is very similar to how you get it in like Mass Effect or FIFA. You only earn gold while playing multiplayer [and] you use that gold to buy booster packs. Those booster packs contain random sets of loot. Based on the different tiers of loot that you get – whether you buy Bronze, Silver or Gold Packs – guarantees whether you get rare or common items.
“One of the things that we did a little different is that you can buy them with in-game currency and real world currency. The difference is that if you’re close we also have small microtransactions.
“Say for instance a gold pack costs 15,000 gold, [and] you’ve only got 12,500 you can actually buy the difference and only spend a little bit to make it go to a Gold Pack. So we offer some variety there.”
Look, maybe this is what people like, or at least have come to expect from games – rather than wait to level up, your can just spend money. But, it just seems like money grubbing to me. This might be the first game someone gets for their Xbox One; after spending a ton of cash on the console, and another sizable sum for the game itself, you now want more money so that I can get the better pants (or skirt, I suppose)? Yes, I get that you don’t have to, you can use in-game money instead, but we all know how these things work out in multiplayer – say hello to some overpowered rich idiot!
Last Updated: August 22, 2013
DarthofZA
August 22, 2013 at 17:10
I’m saddened that this doesn’t make me more mad than it actually does. What has EA and tablet gaming done to me !!!! 🙁
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 07:15
Simpsons tapped out. I actually uninstalled that game. It’s fun in the beginning but then after you played it a bit it becomes repetitive. You can see it for the money grubbing title EA has become accustomed to releasing. Like the Sims
RinceThisandbeAbsurd
August 22, 2013 at 17:15
Gah! Nooo! Mind you, Mass Effect pulls it off well. You don’t HAVE to people, also, using real currency doesn’t guarantee that the pack you buy has decent stuff in it. So not really bothered either way.
Pieter Kruger
August 22, 2013 at 17:32
I really don’t see the problem here? “Um, are you guys sure you want to do that with a launch title meant to win people over?” Again…what??
Jakster
August 22, 2013 at 17:49
Sensationalist journalism at it’s best 😉
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 07:08
Then don’t read it?
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 07:55
I’m thinking: “overpowered rich idiot”
Spathi
August 23, 2013 at 07:48
If you don’t see the problem, then clearly you are part of the problem. *Sigh*
CypherGate
August 22, 2013 at 17:53
slowly true gaming is dying…
Drewidian
August 23, 2013 at 19:14
What if this is the foreshadowing of a Steam like transaction process where you can sell items, characters, badges, cards, and even abilities to other players? In theory, you could sell these items and use the money to purchase other games and season passes? I think we’ve all discarded items that we had duplicates of in a game. If I could sell those items or even everything I’ve earned in that game before I sold it to someone else, I could then use that money towards another game. To me that seems like an upgrade.
ALKi1234
August 22, 2013 at 20:50
the M$ effect.
Concerned
August 23, 2013 at 09:41
Also applicable: the $ony effect.
Brenz
August 22, 2013 at 21:03
wow this is awesome, pay to win!
its funny how he explains it in such a nonchalant way and makes it sound like its doing you a favour and giving so many options and choices, wow they are such nice guys, this isnt disgusting and money grubbing at all, i sure hope they do with this cod and i can buy nukes and instawin all the maps.
Rockstar
August 22, 2013 at 22:23
Yeah, I can’t say I was ever impressed with this game. There are better games coming to the Xbox One IMO.
ElimiNathan
August 22, 2013 at 22:46
Lol this is hilarious, watch as the “MS Fanboys” defend this. It’s called fanboyism for a reason, because you are blinded by the light (aka what is actually better)
Jonah Cash
August 22, 2013 at 22:57
QTE fest with microtransactions…. Hahahaha…. Yes that is the type of game we all want…
To read the rest of my post you will have to plug your Xbox 360 controller in and press x… wait 5.4 seconds and pres y…. wait 2.48 seconds and press b….. and then…. ah screw it I will find a game that has me deciding when I want to attack and how!!
DarthofZA
August 23, 2013 at 07:42
I don’t think you understand how combat works in this game….
Spathi
August 23, 2013 at 07:46
Mashing to Mastery doesn’t sound any better unfortunately.
DarthofZA
August 23, 2013 at 07:51
After watching the gameplay videos, the gameplay looks quite similar to God of War. There just isn’t as much mindless mashing as God of War had. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the God of War games. In the gameplay videos you see important positioning, blocking, countering, kicks, light and heavy attacks. None of it was mashed in. And then there were the QTEs on top of that as well, but they weren’t necessary. The gameplay looks nothing like a button masher at all.
Jonah Cash
August 23, 2013 at 07:54
God of War is the only game I bought that I returned the same day ever!! In 20 years!!! I hate QTE’s I don’t see the need for them at all… That gameplay video was full of QTE’s…. I don’t do them and I don’t do games that has them!!
Jonah Cash
August 23, 2013 at 07:56
Why not just make it like the Batman games if you don’t want to make a too difficult combat system???? I am playing Batman Arkham Asylum again at the moment and the combat system is easy but fun and I can hit or jump or run away or whatever without having to hit a button sequence….
DarthofZA
August 23, 2013 at 08:27
I never like that question. Why not just try do it like game x or game y does it? If you’re trying a new way to approach combat, by all means, go for it. If this turns out to be awesome, then we will be glad they went with what they’re doing. I remember when people were saying “Why not just make it like the Call of Duty games”… now almost every shooter feels like a COD mod.
Spathi
August 23, 2013 at 08:11
I’m just stating what the Devs said. But yeah, maybe it’s the same as GOW, where, when playing the higher difficulties, you actually need to focus and perform combos, but on easy (or even normal early in the game) you can pretty much push one button.
Jonah Cash
August 23, 2013 at 07:57
Going on only the gameplay trailer I think I have a fairly good idea that you will be doing button sequences so much it will come out of your ears!!
DarthofZA
August 23, 2013 at 08:02
I’m still very much on the fence about this game purely because of the frequency of the QTEs. They have stated that you don’t need them, but it looks like they’re part of the bread and butter of the game. After the reviews come out I’ll see what they say about it.
I’m not saying this game looks like the best game ever… I’m just saying that it isn’t purely a QTE game, and it most certainly isn’t a button masher. Will have to wait and see as to how it turns out.
Jonah Cash
August 23, 2013 at 13:38
I agree on waiting to see how it turns out!! But I will own a PS4 by then so it will really not make that big a difference to me to be honest…. And I won’t own a PS4 for it’s exclusives I will purely own one for Watch Dogs and it is cheaper and available before 2014 comes!!
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 07:12
Planetside 2 also has microtransactions which I tend to ignore. I bought the biggest and baddest sniper rifle available so that I could headshot enemies a mile away. A 1000 certs takes a long time to earn in PS2 but it is possible to do it without spending cash. If more games had this approach with microtransactions I can see no problem with it. You don’t have to spend money but you can if you want to.
Mossel
August 23, 2013 at 07:28
But thats just it. Back in the day if you had that sniper rifle people will bow down at your feet and kiss your toes! They would think that this guy is the real deal (or has no life). Now, we all know that you paid for it. It takes away the honour and the glory of achievement!
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 07:54
Indeed. Booooo to payment. When I see a level 6 dude running in full gear I immediately think “rich daddy”
Hammersteyn
August 23, 2013 at 07:58
You still need to get 1160 kills with it for the best medal in the game. Only guns,outfits,helmets and camo can be bought with cash. the rest needs to be earned, like upgrading your classes health or shields. Or equipping prox mines.
You don’t really have to do it either the stock weapons are just as good. I hve been killed by new guys so many times. It’s all about the number of people attacking or defending. The word Zerg gets tossed around a lot.
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 08:07
LOL. Indeed. But you are correct about default guns. I’ve racked up many kills with the default sniper rifle, and the only upgrade I unlocked for it (30certs, thats like a short gametime) was the 12x scope instead of the 6x scope
Mossel
August 23, 2013 at 07:25
I can just imagine just as you are in the heat of battle:”You have not yet unlocked the ability to use defensive items for offense. In order to perform this shield bash you will need to pay $0.99.”
Natty Dave
August 23, 2013 at 07:27
sounds like the evolution of world of warcraft
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 07:57
Microtransactions are a blight in gaming.
Unavengedavo (aka. Frik)
August 23, 2013 at 08:31
I agree… And in my opinion, it all started with F2P MMO’s. Companies realized that they can charge you for content that would have been free previously.
Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs
August 23, 2013 at 08:19
Ryse, RYSE my expenses. RYYYYYYYSE
Rock789
August 23, 2013 at 08:20
“say hello to some overpowered rich idiot!”
Lol… So true! Or even worse, some overpowered rich kid who verbally abuses you via his gold covered headset, whilst making you his personal slave in-game using his newly bought ‘Swordus Enslavus”… Argh!!!
Concerned
August 23, 2013 at 09:01
As far as I can tell multiplayer in Ryse is co-op so what’s the fuss? People running out of negative things to say? Even Shuhei Yoshida would upon reading this article and subsequent discussions fall asleep faster than listening to a boring press conference headed by Heavy Rain developers! It’s not like some idiot in fully bought gear is going to make you his little bitch or anything relax! Sony is doing micro transactions it so why cant MS? You will not be negatively affected when doing an awesome dual execution even if your buddy blew his dad’s budget on awesome looking gloves!
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 09:13
I suppose they have to do micro transactions because they will not be getting many major transactions for this dress up Barbie game.
Her Highness the Hipster
August 23, 2013 at 10:10
OVG! we’ve missed you!!
OVG
August 23, 2013 at 11:23
likewise 🙂 but I have just come off of a 3 week break so give it a couple of hours before my RAGE!!! returns :p
DrKiller
August 23, 2013 at 09:18
Isn’t the new rule that games should be free if they include micro transactions ingame? Like Dota2? 😛
Rock789
August 23, 2013 at 09:58
I thought no-one plays Dota2 anymore?
**hears knock on the door**
“Who are you guys? Wait, what?! I didn’t say anything about Dota2, I swear… Wait, where you taking me? I’m innocent, damn it! Heeeeeeellllllppppp…”
**2 weeks later**
Dota2 is awesome! You all should play it!
Rags
August 23, 2013 at 12:31
Well that is okay I suppose. Some people just don’t have the time for the grind. But I hope they don’t extent the grind for everyone else to obtain the items. Like Diablo 3.
Mass Effect has a good balance. You can still buy MS points and use it to buy the packs. But it is going to cost you a LOT to purchase it all. And the items are random, which discourages micro transactions too imo.