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^There's only one game from last year I think was worth 100 and that's stellar Blade, I bought the DLC cause I wanted to support them at Shift Up nut I never dived into it and it's one of just 7 games I've paid full price for since 2020 when games made the jump to 70 or 80 euro in some cases, hell there were games releasing here on PS5 for 89.99 (I seen a standard edition gameN can't remember what it was for 109 euro) back then so they got close to implementing this but have pulled back on it since, I still see the odd release at 89.99 but most games are back to 69.99/79.99, so they must have realized gamers wouldn't pay. There are games I would pay over 100 for and games I have done so like Final Fantasy 14 online where I paid to be hamster on a wheel on a monthly basis and paid for each new expansion (the first three anyway) and never felt ripped off, the value was simply greater than the cost. I bought an ultimate edition once of Project CARS 2 because the first was so great and gave me 250 hours I was sure the next one would be and it wasn't, it was such a disapointment. So...
I wish they would do this if they really want to continue the way they are and need more money to do so, first add in some ads on the start screen in the menu, nothing intrusive and nothing in the actual game unless it makes sense like in sports games or sim racers, I don't think that would go badly, the backlash would be there but no one would really give a shit about it after the first few big releases do it. However if they really want to secure more money, keep prices at the 8th gen standard 69.99 euro max (AA games no matter their popularity like Atlus games should be 49.99) as they'll sell more copies this way early on and then at certain milestones of hours past prompt and ask the player...
"we see you've enjoyed playing our game as much as we enjoyed crafting it for you, thank you so very much, would you be interested in supporting our effort on our next title to make it the best it can be? Here are some cosmetics you can earn in game for a fee while we are adding some additional content for free to the game, you may like and we at Dev X would be grateful if you would support us in our future endeavours."
...Or something like that. Let's say every 20 hours or so and have cosmetics DLC at vary in prices from cheap 4.99 right up to something ridiculous liek 39.99 or more and be prompted also after the credits roll "would you like to pay for this enhanced version of NG+ which has some additional content" while again thanking the player and reminding them they have spent many hours in game and that they are going to try to make the next project, a sequel or not, the best it can be.. I think many would buy just like the Stellar Blade DLC where they did just that without the prompt needed, gamers just went and bought it to supoort the game, I paid 10 euro for Neir Automata DLC take is basically just a treasure hunt for some cosmetics just cause I was so impressed with their work, I have yet to pursue the content. Even games that are really cheap like Vampire survivors, I bought all DLC and didn't even have intention to go near it cause I was spent 65 hours in that game and I felt like I needed to support them. No need to try and cohere the player into MTX by scummy means, or use physiology to do so, simple ask. Marvel Rivals is the perfect example, people will pay for cosmetics if you put them in and make them look cool, of their own accord but just ask them and thank them for playing and they will most definetly do it in single player games and all. This practice would keep the dynamic between player and publisher in good standing and publishers would be more inclined to actually listen to what gamers want and be more civil even if it's fake, devs having melt downs attacking gamers on social media would be fired, publishers would ease on crunch to gain favour and go out of their way to do so in other areas to and it would end hamefisted, weird and out of place social messaging in games and all.
I do this all the time for games I think are great and I enjoyed my time, most recently I bought the Alan wake DLC after buying the game in a half price sale. Even though I thought Metaphor was an 8/10, when they thanked me at the end for playing I was actually appreciative. If they had asked me to buy DLC at that point, I easily would have had without a second thought. This is different than ultimate editions which are a scummy way of whale hunting and using fomo, it's also, I would reckon a more lucrative method. I hope to see it implemented before 100 euro games cause I'll go straight back to playing old games, there are well and many I have not tried that would keep me gaming for years into the future and I'd get them dirt cheap and there are plenty of indie games that would keep me rationed while I wait for half price sales and more finished and polished products. They have already forced me from a day one gamer to a sale gamer and I'll never look back cause I can afford more games now and broaden my horizons, once they force most people into this same spot and they come to the realisation that they don't need to do midnight releases of games or buy day one to still have as much fun and they can play more games then there is no turning back and the AAA landscape will be desolate.
I think my solution would bring us better more polished games at release and in turn remove the God awful relationship between customers and devs/publishers these days. In fact, I know it works cause of Patreon, a little tiny company like Last Stand Media can rake in millions a year just on good will and some light incentives.
Last edited by LegitHyperbole - 6 days ago
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