Micro-transactions Are No Longer Micro

[skywalker0957]

Something I feel that hasn't been mentioned often when talking about micro-transactions is the fact that they aren't really "micro" anymore. Nowadays most micro-transactions run upwards of 20 dollars or more and on average most minor cosmetics are costing 5 dollars or more. An example at the moment is Black Ops 4 selling a single gun camo for $5 which only applies to one weapon in the game or Fallout 76 selling a Santa outfit for $20. These purchases aren't micro, there is nothing minor about the amount of money being exchanged and to see things like outfits in full priced games costing as much as a third or more of the game. I remember back when Black Ops 2 was the main CoD game for the year and you truly had micro transactions in a sense that for $2 if I recall correctly you got a universal camo for all weapons and a calling card. That is a micro-transaction, a small dollar amount being exchanged for an item. I feel most people don't mind true micro transactions in games where I can spend a dollar or two to get a neat looking skin or outfit so I can look cool in my game. Obviously this only holds true if the game isn't void of content and its being held hostage via micro-transactions but that is a discussion for another time. The only game I can think of that has come out recently that had actual micro-transactions was Titanfall 2 where for I think at most $5 dollars got you a substantial amount of camos and themes for guns and titans. On top of that the game had a substantial amount of cosmetic items that could be earned through game play so it was a nice addition that was offered as an actual option to players.

I really don't know why I am fixated on this thought at the moment. Maybe its because after 20 plus of years of playing games and seeing the industry shift for what feels like a ultimately worse state than it has been in in my lifetime is finally getting to me. Maybe I am tired of hearing people defend $20 for an outfit in a game that already cost $60 and saying its only optional when that stuff use to just be included as rewards for people playing the game. And finally it maybe because I am tired of most games I am playing constantly pestering me for more money and more money and more money every time I log on to have some fun after work. Anyways I know I got on a tangent there, but what do you all think about this?

[skywalker0957]

I liken back to the days where you could earn everything as an unlockable, and then when an expansion or DLC came out, they'd add more options for customization.

Honestly, I get devs wanting to get paid for doing graphical work not integral to the main game. I would honestly rather see bulk purchases like instead of buying a red dye, you could purchase a bundle of all of the reds. A purchase like that doesn't seem quite so bad to me. Again, all about perspective I suppose.

I agree with that, it was nice when expansions added new content including customization. My friend made a good point saying that all this stuff for customization used to just be in the game and now its sold separately at high prices. I think titanfall 2 did bulk purchases if I remember correctly and came with a bunch of skins for different things. Again quality instead of quantity, I am ok with a $2 animated camo as addition to what I already have not $2 dollars for red.

[Kashimi]

I definitely get the sentiment that they are predatory in a sense. It plays off people wanting to look cool or unique (in most scenarios, especially multiplayer games) and gets someone to really consider buying things to do that. I feel it really is predatory where there is no cosmetics or very few to begin with and is all sold afterwards. Maybe I am just thinking of how they were before where it truly felt like just a small addition if you liked it. I don't think most people have an issue with DLC if the quality is there, though there hasn't been much of that lately.

I liken back to the days where you could earn everything as an unlockable, and then when an expansion or DLC came out, they'd add more options for customization.

Honestly, I get devs wanting to get paid for doing graphical work not integral to the main game. I would honestly rather see bulk purchases like instead of buying a red dye, you could purchase a bundle of all of the reds. A purchase like that doesn't seem quite so bad to me. Again, all about perspective I suppose.

[skywalker0957]

Yeah, my friends and I were talking about this a couple weeks ago. If microtransactions were 99cents a pop, I'd probably get suckered into buying 20 a month, but when they're 10-20 dollars a pop, I really have to like the game to justify even one purchase a month.

I feel ya on that, something for 99 cents is far more appealing and that can rack up in the long term. The problem is so much of the stuff on offer in most games is really only worth 99 cents maybe a dollar in a full price title but is being charged way to much for.

[skywalker0957]

I feel like the term "micro-transaction" was created by some corporate think tank just to establish minimizing the sting of spending the money. I honestly feel that all micro-transactions are predatory in nature, regardless of what the purchasable content. Things like DLC or expansion packs are fine to me, but I guess it all has to do with perspective.

I definitely get the sentiment that they are predatory in a sense. It plays off people wanting to look cool or unique (in most scenarios, especially multiplayer games) and gets someone to really consider buying things to do that. I feel it really is predatory where there is no cosmetics or very few to begin with and is all sold afterwards. Maybe I am just thinking of how they were before where it truly felt like just a small addition if you liked it. I don't think most people have an issue with DLC if the quality is there, though there hasn't been much of that lately.

[JackofTears]

Yeah, my friends and I were talking about this a couple weeks ago. If microtransactions were 99cents a pop, I'd probably get suckered into buying 20 a month, but when they're 10-20 dollars a pop, I really have to like the game to justify even one purchase a month.

[skywalker0957]

It's more of semantic arguments. You're technically correct but just calling them transactions or macro-transactions doesn't have the negative connotations that these scams deserve. In my opinion when a game is bought it shouldn't have any content you have to buy on that game. DLC is fine as long as they are additions to the game, not already on the disc and just having to pay extra to get (destiny 2 is an example of bad dlc).

I guess you are right with the semantics part, it does all behave the same way. I do agree with content on discs, that is a no go or cut content to be day 1 dlc. That should be included with the game since I paid for it and its quite literally on the disc I bought. I just really wanted to say that the way they behave now is just so pathetic and costly where as before the price was reasonable, i.e. 2 to 3 dollars and offered more on top of what there already was. Like Black Ops 2 gun skins or the recent cosmetic packs with Titanfall 2. I am all for getting something extra if I want it, though nowadays this stuff isn't extra anymore since most games gut systems in order to sell it later.

[Kashimi]

I feel like the term "micro-transaction" was created by some corporate think tank just to establish minimizing the sting of spending the money. I honestly feel that all micro-transactions are predatory in nature, regardless of what the purchasable content. Things like DLC or expansion packs are fine to me, but I guess it all has to do with perspective.

[Imnotanybody]

It's more of semantic arguments. You're technically correct but just calling them transactions or macro-transactions doesn't have the negative connotations that these scams deserve. In my opinion when a game is bought it shouldn't have any content you have to buy on that game. DLC is fine as long as they are additions to the game, not already on the disc and just having to pay extra to get (destiny 2 is an example of bad dlc).