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Jim Sterling criticizes Microsoft's role in normalizing microtransactions (see staff post)
- Thread starter Saucycarpdog
- Start date
What's "consumer friendly"?
You can play Xbox first party console exclusives on an Xbox or on a PC.
If you want you can get Game Pass for cheap as hell and play through those games on your Xbox or PC and unsubscribe from the service until the next first party exclusive hits.
Since Gears of War 5 just came out I find it topical to remind people that Microsoft mandated that the extra maps made for GoW1 be released as paid DLC as opposed to free content updates which Epic traditionally did like in their earlier Unreal Tournament games (and UT3 afterwards for that matter). That alongside the concurrent tactic of paywalling bog standard online play features for PC games released under the GFWL label made it blatantly transparent just how much Microsoft were trying to lower the bar for consumer expectations.
And this was all before the topics brought up in the video. I think it would have been poignant to highlight just how far the industry has shifted with Microsoft leading the charge since before the XB1/PS4 generation which really got the momentum going proper.
And this was all before the topics brought up in the video. I think it would have been poignant to highlight just how far the industry has shifted with Microsoft leading the charge since before the XB1/PS4 generation which really got the momentum going proper.
Glad Jim is putting visibility on MS' insane engagement tactics. They care most about services, live games, and online subscriptions...and have for some time now.
I wonder why he chose a clickbait title as if to goat those reactions out of people
What year is it? 2015?
Since Phil assumed the games division, MS has been the most pro consumer of the Big 3
Jim's opinions are ... something
I don't think that I've agreed with his take on something since his Deadly Premonition review (and I'll always be thankful for that)
Since Phil assumed the games division, MS has been the most pro consumer of the Big 3
Jim's opinions are ... something
I don't think that I've agreed with his take on something since his Deadly Premonition review (and I'll always be thankful for that)
I do agree with the main point he makes in the video and I actually blame Microsoft for more things that have gone wrong or have been normalize in this industry besides Micro transactions but I won't go into details about since I'm not interested in fluffing somebody's feathers because I said something mean about their preferred choice of a platform.
" normalization of excessive monetization" what's the point for this ? I mean their brand games doesn't have micro transaction, Sea of thieves add them 2 (or 3 don't remember) year later of the launch of the game. I don't get the point. I think EA and Activision Blizzard do that, not MS.
"Consumer friendly" as in not bothering your audience with any microtransactions to begin with because as a platform holder you have other incentives when selling a videogame. Like, not designing parts of your game around this shit. Thanks for the marketing talking points tho.
Not even Jim is refuting that Microsoft has some good approaches to availability and accesibility. They are still the only platform holder shoving this shit in their games.
User Warned: platform warring
And lets be real they have demonstrated time and time again a lack of desire to put out major (good) first party games. Never understood why people would willingly choose to limit their potential library by choosing a system with so little quality exclusive titles
Honestly, it makes me not want to watch the video and just dismiss it when a title like that is used.
I was not aware Microsoft developed their video games around microtransactions.
That title is fucking nuts 😂. With the video game community being as hostile and fanboy driven as it is going "Hey guys, the least popular platform is the reason that video games are bad" is like the lowest hanging fruit. Not even hanging really, these oranges have fallen off and rolled into a nearby ditch much to the delight of a family of raccoons.
Looking forward to seeing this. Microtransactions have been egregious in many Microsoft games, big games like Gears 5 and Forza Horizon 4 being no exception (literal pay to win elements in both). It doesn't get enough exposure, so it's good to see someone like Jim applying pressure.
If they want microtransactions, let them at least have some of the bad PR that goes along with it.
If they want microtransactions, let them at least have some of the bad PR that goes along with it.
Me either. I guess the free maps and free characters released in Gears 5 every four months counts for nothing.
The Tour of Duty being free as well. Heck, Dave Bautista's Marcus skin was free and I thought that would be a microtransaction.
Such a stupid video.
But par for the course in the contest to see who can garnish clicks by saying the most ignorant things.
But par for the course in the contest to see who can garnish clicks by saying the most ignorant things.
I don't think they are such valuable to take the word "normalization" on them. They don't had extra value has Activision do on COD. For me OverWatch normalize the loot box, more than (almost) any other game.
That's kinda what he goes for, clickbait titles get views, sadly.
Every game with microtransactions in them is designed with them in mind. MS is no exception there. This notion that these companies just put these systems in their games for the luls and don't try to balance their games in a way to make visiting the shop enticing is hilarious.
I can't agree when he says: "Forza 5, Ryse and Panzer Dragon normalized microtransactions" lol
If he thinks Ubisoft, EA, WB, Take-Two looked at F5, Ryse success and they followed suit by adding MTX in their games that's a big lol
GTA V and FIFA normalized MTX.
If he thinks Ubisoft, EA, WB, Take-Two looked at F5, Ryse success and they followed suit by adding MTX in their games that's a big lol
GTA V and FIFA normalized MTX.
Almost nobody past the first 3 pages as the threads gonna be derailed by then
I was playing yesterday and some people I played with didn't even know how to get to the Gears 5 shop.
The Tour of Duty, which is free and the main way to progress, is much more visible.
I haven't spent a dime on microtransactions and I have enough of the premium currency to reroll objectives anytime I want. I would only need to buy iron if I wanted to get some store skins, which you have to go to the store to see.
Honestly, I think Jim isn't going far back enough. It's ea who saw how mts could be used in non f2p games and showed everyone else including Microsoft how lucrative it is. GTA making so much money also was another milestone to help. Microsoft is honestly following the trend at this point.
Could someone summarise his main points for me? I don't really watch his content any more, but even so I would not have time to watch this for several hours.
Even without watching, it's not wrong to say MS has put a bigger emphasis on good services than on exclusive content. It's more of a pc oriented frame of mind.
That doesn't make them bad for the industry or excuse third parties for exploitative practices or poor games, but their approach is indeed different to the other two.
Pay to win in Forza Horizon 4 and Gears 5? What? Did you play these games?
Forget it. I'm out...
It's amazing how hard they have fallen since last gen , but I think it was a great lesson and they are slowing turning it around .
Like most companies they got ahead of themselves , but at the same time they got unfairly mocked for being ahead of the curve.
5 years ago they were being mocked for "always online" , now people are cheering for streaming only boxes .
Since then they have worked hard to turn it around . They basically monetised online which I hate , but then they also brought in initiatives like gamepass and backwards comparable which are very pro consumer .
So abit if a mixed bag , it will be interesting to see how Sony handles next gen , will it be arrogant Sony or them learning from ms mistakes .
Like most companies they got ahead of themselves , but at the same time they got unfairly mocked for being ahead of the curve.
5 years ago they were being mocked for "always online" , now people are cheering for streaming only boxes .
Since then they have worked hard to turn it around . They basically monetised online which I hate , but then they also brought in initiatives like gamepass and backwards comparable which are very pro consumer .
So abit if a mixed bag , it will be interesting to see how Sony handles next gen , will it be arrogant Sony or them learning from ms mistakes .