By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming Discussion - Eurogamer: What happens when free-to-play games aren't free?

A good editorial article talking about how the way MS is using the free-to-play mechanics is a bad decision for gamer in this generation.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-11-23-whens-a-free-to-play-game-not-free-to-play

I won't give my opinion here to not created discody between the fans (in fact Sony will follow the MS example if they have success).

I will quote the Forza 5 example for reflexion.

"In Forza Motorsport 5, the problem runs deeper - the economy that's the backbone of the series has been altered, and it's too easy to come to the conclusion the changes have been made to make way for microtransactions. Unlike in older Forza games, cars aren't offered as rewards for success: instead, the only option is to buy them in a grind that can be augmented by pumping in real-world money.

It's a problem exacerbated by Forza Motorsport 5's drip-feed of cars as part of a $50 season pass, a number of which are being reintroduced from earlier games. And even when you've bought them as DLC, in order to own them fully in the game they have to be purchased using in-game currency - or, of course, by pumping in a little extra money of your own. The game's creative director, Dan Greenawalt - a smart and passionate man who I suspect isn't behind these decisions - admitted the season pass hasn't been wholly popular, but that people are enjoying it and redeeming it, and that it's keeping them playing the game for another 6 months. He compared it in some small way to a gym membership - but the problem with Forza 5's membership is that having already bought the gym and paid a subscription, you're then asked to pay individually for each piece of equipment within."



Around the Network

I've been tempted to make a thread on the micro transactions of Forza 5. Its such a complete mess, and its clearly designed to make players spend stupid amounts of cash on tokens. I could copy over a list of transgressions that would make your head spin.



ǝןdɯıs ʇı dǝǝʞ oʇ ǝʞıן ı ʍouʞ noʎ 

Ask me about being an elitist jerk

Time for hype

I don't have the games in question, so don't want to speak too strongly, but this is a very very very very worrying trend.

I'm less concerned about things in multiplayer where they are things like skins etc or cash for co-op (a bit worrying...). But single player needs to be left alone



I'm not totally familiar with the Forza situation, but it sounds really bad. I strongly dislike and mistrust microtransactions and I'd like to see them disappear from the industry.



"And even when you've bought them as DLC, in order to own them fully in the game they have to be purchased using in-game currency - or, of course, by pumping in a little extra money of your own."

Wait a second ... is that true? You buy the DLC but you don't get it until you buy it from within the game--which, of course, can be done quicker and easier with an influx of real money? That sounds awfully shady. I don't think I like that very much.



Around the Network

Not seeing the deal here, unlock through gameplay like a normal person or buy for the lazy/impatient. I hate microtransactions as much as the next guy but they are here to stay because the consumer has spoken. In addition to that the gaming industry is broken and depends on crap like this to pay for their overbudgeted games.



Getting an XBOX One for me is like being in a bad relationship but staying together because we have kids. XBone we have 20000+ achievement points, 2+ years of XBL Gold and 20000+ MS points. I think its best we stay together if only for the MS points.

Nintendo Treehouse is what happens when a publisher is confident and proud of its games and doesn't need to show CGI lies for five minutes.

-Jim Sterling

So far everything I have read about this is terrible.

 

One thing that Turn 10 and Microsoft snuck into Forza Motorsport 5 was microtransactions, whereby you can spend money on Tokens and then use them to acquire cars in the game (you can also use them to increase the amount of XP you receive for each race for a limited period of time) if you wanted to shortcut the career to snag the faster cars quicker.

For 2,334 Tokens you can buy either a McLaren P1 or Ferrari Enzo. A Token pack costing £15.99 will cover either of those cars (you can buy packs of Tokens at the following prices: 100 is £0.79, 575 is £3.99, 1250 is £7.99, 2700 is £15.99, 8000 is £39.99 and 20,000 is £64.99), so with the 2700 Token pack that's one vehicle for £13.82. But there's much more expensive cars in Forza Motorsport 5, but the more Tokens you buy, the cheaper they are. If you bought the 20,000 pack (costing £64.99) the McLaren would cost just £7.58.

From the same pricing, a Veyron Super Sport will set you back £13.00, and the most expensive car in the game, the Lotus E21 will cost an incredible £32.50. The smaller the pack of Tokens, the more expensive they are, so the worst possible way of picking up the game's most expensive car would be to buy 100 of the 100 Token packs, bagging you the exclusive 10,000 Token Lotus E21 for a cool £79.

SOURCE

 

£32.50 for a single car ?  Am I reading this right ?

 

 

 



I already don't like how Sony followed MS with the paywall but it was expected and I will need to accept but I think it is a bad move from Sony... I prefer a free online approach... now I'm paying I will require a better PSN.

About the microtransactions... I hate this trend... GT6 will use it for easy money and I hate that... at least you can play the full game without microtransactions like in Forza 4... so the bad is not a huge bad.

Now what MS is trying with the launch lineup for Xbone are atrocities... terrible... bad in the bad way... I don't want Sony to follow that... this is a hell of shit... I don't what MS changing the industry for this bullshit terms.

I want my gamer life back



ethomaz said:
I already don't like how Sony followed MS with the paywall but it was expected and I will need to accept but I think it is a bad move from Sony... I prefer a free online approach... now I'm paying I will require a better PSN.

About the microtransactions... I hate this trend... GT6 will use it for easy money and I hate that... at least you can play the full game without microtransactions like in Forza 4... so the bad is not a huge bad.

Now what MS is trying with the launch lineup for Xbone are atrocities... terrible... bad in the bad way... I don't want Sony to follow that... this is a hell of shit... I don't what MS changing the industry for this bullshit terms.

I want my gamer life back


I hear you man, garbage like this is overflowing all over the industry. At least Nintendo and Sony haven't gone down this road that far. Though paid psn is bullshit, and gt6 has me worried.



ǝןdɯıs ʇı dǝǝʞ oʇ ǝʞıן ı ʍouʞ noʎ 

Ask me about being an elitist jerk

Time for hype

 

I won't give my opinion here to not created discody between the fans (in fact Sony will follow the MS example if they have success).

I will quote the Forza 5 example for reflexion.


What did you feel about the Gran Turismo 6 Micro Transactions also referenced in the article?



RIP Dad 25/11/51 - 13/12/13. You will be missed but never forgotten.