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EA changes Need For Speed: Payback’s loot crate monetization

Nirolak

Nirolak

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,660
Apparently this is "phase 1" as well.

EA has updated Need for Speed Payback's loot crates and progression systems to make them more generous.

The post-launch tweak comes as Star Wars Battlefront 2, EA's other big launch of the season, suffers its own progression and loot crate controversies.

Need for Speed developer Ghost Games detailed how it had altered the game via a post on redditover the weekend. In short, crates will now offer increased Rep and Bank.

Cruicially, however, you'll also get more of both from simply playing the game, without interacting with loot boxes at all. Events and beating Roaming Racers will afford you with more Rep and Bank to boost your progression.
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Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2...payback-loot-crates-progression-more-generous

Full details:

Hey Everyone, bit of an update for you.

As you've seen from previous updates recently, we've been working on improving your experience with the progression.

We've been using Community feedback, along with our own in-game data and have come up with a number of changes, many of which are in the process of going live. Our aim with these changes is to make the progression, especially around the ownership of cars a much more enjoyable experience.

If you're currently playing the game while reading this, please restart in order for the changes to come into effect.

  • Increased the amount of REP awarded by taking part in events.
  • Increased the amount of Bank awarded by taking part in events.
  • Bait crates now reward increased REP.
  • Bait crates now reward increased Bank.
  • Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased REP.
  • Competing against a Roaming Racer will reward you with increased Bank.
  • Air Suspension will now appear more frequently within Shipments.
  • Slightly increased REP and Bank for finishing an event outside of first place.
Today's changes are just phase one and we have further tweaks coming. Coming shortly will be some changes to the way tune-up shops work, especially around the quality / level of parts they stock. More on that soon.

It is worth noting that we do encourage you to recycle your speed cards for tokens. Targeted rolls are a very good alternative to tune-up shops. Definitely worth buying out the parts from the tune-up shop and recycling them.

Previous Changes

  • Decreased the time it takes for new parts to appear in Tune-Up shops, down from 30mins to 10mins.
  • Increased rate in which parts are rewarded within Ranked Speedlists.
As always, keep the feedback coming. Have a great weekend and we'll see you in Fortune Valley.
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Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/needforspeed/comments/7dmi59/progression_updates_rolling_out/
 
ConHaki66

ConHaki66

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,968
  • Decreased the time it takes for new parts to appear in Tune-Up shops, down from 30mins to 10mins.
what the hell
 
Calibro

Calibro

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,822
Belarus
The system is still shitfucked. You don't upgrade car parts, you upgrade cards from random lootboxes, who the fuck thinks it's a part of car porn fantasy? And if that's what they're going to do with SWBF2, things aren't going to change in terms of it's fuckedness.

I mean it's EA, they're not going to do that. These two games are literally built around rng lootboxes, taking them out means a design overhaul of a great caliber. LIke Final Fantasy XIV 2.0.
 
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PanzerKraken

PanzerKraken

Member
Nov 1, 2017
15,027
Why the hell haven't they done this for BF2? The rate of rewards is pathetic right now, takes forever to get boxes
 
Carthago Delenda Est

Carthago Delenda Est

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
6,119
This is not enough. They need to lower the race requirements across the board. Or, really, they just need to patch out this fucking awful loot card bullshit. It literally ruins the game.
 
Ploid 6.0

Ploid 6.0

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,440
I'm scared of seeing how Dragon Age 4 will turn out.

Hopefully they experience a lot of push back and less sales when trying to implement this stuff before Dragon Age 4 is getting ready to launch. Dragon Age Inquisition had a type of waiting system in the single player that players were able to mod out. It also had loot boxes, the MP loot boxes were in a good spot for me. One quick run could get you 1 or more crates depending on the size and the difficulty you picked. Those boxes rained, and I was able to easily get them. I hope their MP is funded by this again, maybe more like Mass Effect 3 since I heard great things about that implementation, it wasn't bad like the stuff I'm hearing about with Star Wars.
 
famousmortimer

famousmortimer

Member
Oct 27, 2017
334
The Ether
The silver lining is that this fall is when they pushed too far and they know it.


I'm keeping this game on the shelf until further changes happen but hopefully all of this means that the next NFS isn't designed from the ground up with this shit.

I may be overly optimistic. But boy did this game tank.
 
Ge0force

Ge0force

Self-requested ban.
Banned
Oct 28, 2017
5,265
Belgium
This is not enough. Loot boxes shouldn't affect the gameplay or progression at all. EA's vision of GaaS is disgusting, they won't get my money this way.
 
sandboxgod

sandboxgod

Attempting to circumvent a ban with an alt
Banned
Oct 27, 2017
4,919
Austin, Texas
Very disturbing all of these EA games have awful rng lootboxes. Granted, they've been doing this since Mass Effect 3 multiplayer and it was horrible. But apparently this first trial was successful even though I personally can only remember buying 1 or 2 of these boxes out of sheer ignorance. Apologies to all; a bunch of scrubs like myself got us here I am being 100%
 
SJRB

SJRB

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
4,861
Today's changes are just phase one and we have further tweaks coming
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This shit is just unreal. They're literally tweaking their lootbox horseshit in an already released, fully priced videogame to see what flies and what doesn't.
 
bushmonkey

bushmonkey

Member
Oct 29, 2017
5,606
I'm glad EA have finally fallen on their sword. It has honestly made me smile that the casual market responded negatively to their shenanigans I thought it would only be us gamers who would vote with our wallets and everyone else would ignore the issue but I'm happy to have been proven wrong!
 
ApeEscaper

ApeEscaper

Member
Oct 27, 2017
8,722
Bangladeshi
I know Ubisoft is different to EA but so far atleast Ubisoft was not as bad as this when it comes to monetisation inside their games how EA handles it


Just waiting to see how The Crew 2 will handle all this similar or not
 
LiKellow

LiKellow

Member
Nov 13, 2017
30
Liskeard, Cornwall
After I've already battled terribly with the unfair systems during the initial days since launch. I'm glad for the changes as others who purchase the game will be able to enjoy it more, but I certainly won't be going back to the game.

Not normally one to hate a game, but PayBack left a hideous taste in my mouth.
 
Seth Balmore

Seth Balmore

Member
Oct 27, 2017
379
Spain
Too little too late, I believe... While it's true gamers forget these things relatively quickly, interest in NFS Payback was already lukewarm before the monetization scheme became known to the public. I wonder how much this was Ghost's idea and how much it was corporate steering them towards the GaaS model... If these practices don't impact sales noticeably, I'm concerned for Anthem.
 
Yoshi

Yoshi

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
2,055
Germany
GameZone said:
Wtf, is this a game for my mobile phone?
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The crazy thing is, in this game you need to level up your car (you really need to, as soon as you are >50 points below the competition you are fucked), but the upgrades you get can only be obtained through the following ways:
- You get one random upgrade for each mission you complete
- You can build upgrades of a certain kind (you can choose the general type of upgrade beforehand) via a slot machine for which you can use a special currency that is quite rare
- You can buy some from a shop for the regular, common currency, but the offer at the shop is randomly selected - in my time with the game I only found trash there
- IIRC some might be included in the loot boxes, of which you get a small amount for free for clearing story missions (I think that's how they unlock)

Basically, the whole progression scheme is random.

It's a shame, too, because from my point of view, the driving mechanics are the best they have been for many years, it is fast, fluid and simple, yet not completely trivial thanks to a robust drifting system. Driving is fun in this game. Trying to complete the game is not though.
 
Greigor the FellHand

Greigor the FellHand

Member
Oct 26, 2017
12,125
I really hope NFS sales are abysmal, the only way comapnies like EA that are doing this will learn are one of two options.

1. Awful sales, Critical failures

2. Government regulation
 
Dorfdad

Dorfdad

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
731
AAA market is dying because of these practices. Indies are becoming the better value / Fun factor games anymore.
 
Zoid

Zoid

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,335
Okay so, can you roll your car up to a shop and buy performance parts to upgrade it? Or is it still just loot crates, but now you can buy more of them?
 
Billfisto

Billfisto

Member
Oct 30, 2017
14,977
Canada
I would be upset that I'd already struggled through a bunch of their shitty game and missed out on the improved payout for all the stuff I'd already completed, but the joke's on them - I've already returned the game for a full refund!

No more EA games for me unless they do some serious soul-searching.
 
olag

olag

Banned
Oct 28, 2017
2,106
Dorfdad said:
AAA market is dying because of these practices. Indies are becoming the better value / Fun factor games anymore.
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Unfortunately the truth is this is probably the most financially successful the gaming industry has ever been. And all it took was a few morally ambiguous decisions.
 
KRaZyAmmo

KRaZyAmmo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,284
Zoid said:
Okay so, can you roll your car up to a shop and buy performance parts to upgrade it? Or is it still just loot crates, but now you can buy more of them?
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You can still roll up to a shop and buy performance parts. You can use the rolls if you wanna get a part with like of a certain part, brand, or perk. The lootboxes has x money, x part token (for more rolls at the shops), and a vanity item. This is just the base lootbox not the premium one with real money.
 
Zoid

Zoid

Member
Oct 27, 2017
2,335
KRaZyAmmo said:
You can still roll up to a shop and buy performance parts. You can use the rolls if you wanna get a part with like of a certain part, brand, or perk. The lootboxes has x money, x part token (for more rolls at the shops), and a vanity item. This is just the base lootbox not the premium one with real money.
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And can I also do visual customization with the in game money? I had been told you get speed cards or something like that from the loot crates and apply those to your vehicles to increase performance, likewise you unlock visual customization through loot crates such as different neon lights. It made it sound like you'd be upgrading your car through loot crates, both visually and performance wise.

Is it necessary to engage with loot crates? (I understand you can buy them with in game money)
 
T_Exige

T_Exige

Member
Oct 27, 2017
14
I am so happy they no longer have Porsche as exclusive.
No more reasons to buy EA games ...
 
KRaZyAmmo

KRaZyAmmo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,284
Zoid said:
And can I also do visual customization with the in game money? I had been told you get speed cards or something like that from the loot crates and apply those to your vehicles to increase performance, likewise you unlock visual customization through loot crates such as different neon lights. It made it sound like you'd be upgrading your car through loot crates, both visually and performance wise.

Is it necessary to engage with loot crates? (I understand you can buy them with in game money)
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You can still visually customize with in game money. Neon, nos color, tire smoke, horns, and air suspensions come from lootboxes. For performance you get the speed cards anytime you finish first in a race to level up your car performance. I haven't bought any lootboxes in the game. You don't necessarily need to buy lootboxes to finish the game. You get the lootboxes anytime you level up and do some of the daily challenges.
 
Billfisto

Billfisto

Member
Oct 30, 2017
14,977
Canada
Zoid said:
And can I also do visual customization with the in game money? I had been told you get speed cards or something like that from the loot crates and apply those to your vehicles to increase performance, likewise you unlock visual customization through loot crates such as different neon lights. It made it sound like you'd be upgrading your car through loot crates, both visually and performance wise.

Is it necessary to engage with loot crates? (I understand you can buy them with in game money)
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Most visual customization is done by completing various tasks (complete three two-star jumps, five ten-second long drifts, etc) to unlock various slots on the car (spoiler, hubcaps, runners, etc). Once the slots are unlocked you seem to get all the options in that slot for that car, and you just buy them for in-game money.

The only real visual lootbox stuff is underglow. So much dumb underglow.

Don't risk it, neither the visual or performance upgrading is fulfilling in any way.
 
PetrCobra

PetrCobra

Member
Oct 27, 2017
954
Are EA games really so awesome that people still buy them even with all this shit they're littered with? I honestly don't understand.
 
GamerEra

GamerEra

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
1,096
I guess EA finally realized their greed is ruining otherwise great games. I think its too late though. The negative press and impressions have already done their damage.
 

Zelus

Member
Oct 27, 2017
990
LiKellow said:
After I've already battled terribly with the unfair systems during the initial days since launch. I'm glad for the changes as others who purchase the game will be able to enjoy it more, but I certainly won't be going back to the game.

Not normally one to hate a game, but PayBack left a hideous taste in my mouth.
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Agreed. I pre-ordered because I absolute loved the 2015 version; I won't ever do so again.
 
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