Would you pay twenty dollars for a skin in a free-to-play game? How about sixty thousand dollars? If you are shaking your head in disapproval you should know that a growing number of gamers don’t agree with you. The cosmetic micro-transaction business has been for years earning billions of dollars and it doesn’t seem that its growth will slow down anytime soon.
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You bring up some excellent points, in general, I agree with your thoughts on lootboxes, and that cosmetic items are a much better way forward.
That said, there are a few points that I can perhaps help you with (this is coming from 'Tenzin, Community Manager for Hash Rush'). I've had about a decade of experience working with Free2Play games and have seen terrible monetisation models, and some pretty impressive ones.
Starting with cosmetics, I would say that there is a third group of people that spend more significant amounts of money on microtransactions for cosmetics. Some people buy items just because 'they look good' without regard for the cost. From my personal friend circle, there are several that play the MMO 'Aion' and while, over time, they gradually stopped playing the game, they would always log in when new clothes are added to buy the items and have in-game fashion shows. This behaviour is not that uncommon; whether it is with games that have outdated graphics, or more modern graphics, as long as the players can put on a show, there will be groups of people that play 'just for the clothes'. I noticed the same behaviour with other games (that I worked on).
On Lootboxes, I've made my distaste for these items known many times when writing on Steemit, but going back to my time working with f2p games that made use of them, I do understand some reasons why they are used. One of the biggest reasons is that you cannot really put the hugely powerful/rare items in the item shop, (items do not need to be 'weapons' but also stat modifiers like +20 bonus) - because the cost would need to be balanced according to the other items. As greedy as publishers can be, they do not like having items that cost upwards of 50e for a single piece, so they are put in relatively 'cheap' lootboxes/mystery boxes but with a terrible drop rate, to be clear, I disagree with this tactic, but it is one of the original reasons why they were created. There are obviously other ways of adding the item to the game - e.g. rare monster drops, but then you need to consider that developers (especially good ones) do command a large fee - you need to pay them well, or they will move to a company that does. Free2Play games really have to have a source of income that doesn't stop or at least lasts a very long time. Cosmetics and skins (whilst I really like seeing them) do stop once the player has acquired them.
I do think that lootboxes need to stop - or at least be brought under control (they have no place in pay-to-play games like Battlefront) but when you look at mobile and Free2Play games, they are, unfortunately, a vital means of survival.
That's my wall of text ended, it's food for thought if you were not aware of them. If you want to discuss them, I'm more than happy to talk through a few other points and reasonings why the gaming scene is as it is!
That said, I am happy to be working for Hash Rush now, where we are using Blockchain tech to finally give players back power and move away from the shady lootbox tactics and locked premium currencies, so check us out if you're interested in the project.
To start with, I really don't mind cosmetic items in games. Especially in F2P games as in those they are the way the developers monetize the game. And yes, I realize that hiring developers is expensive, that is why you need to create the game's business model so it is profitable.
My problem with lootboxes isn't about the items they provide. It's about the fact that they are essentially slot machines, but they are also available to minors. We ban minors from that kind of gambling for a reason - the fact that their brains aren't just ready for that kind of a dopamine hit and counting on them being responsible.
And when it comes to P2W aspects of games, I think the vast majority of players can agree that those are just purely bad and it is very hard to argue otherwise.
But eitherway, thanks for a great comment :)
If players like the game so much that they see no problem chipping in, I don't, either. Besides, games nowadays get frequent updates, maintain online servers 24/7, constantly advertise so more players join, arrange tournaments, etc.
It's not unfair they offer microtransactions when buying the game itself is so cheap. Sure, they might get a lot of profit for collectible items and the like, but that just means their game+cosmetics design is so damn good, players don't value them less for it. On the contrary, even.
I do agree for the most part. But I also think the companies need to be very critical of themselves when it comes to their business models. Especially when it comes to creating models that encourage addictive behaviors.
I agree with this, I don't mind that companies want to maximize their profit... I do mind when they do everything in their power to make players pay money now and regret it later. And sadly, yeah, companies do that in calculated way too!!
That's why in the video I talk about the difference between short-term gains, which are usually created by lootboxes and a sustainable business model that may not make hundreds of millions in months, but will provide billions over a long period of time.
Also agreed. But that's not good design, it's being a drug dealer of sorts. @kralizec @ahmadmanga
In those games, I'd pay around $1 weekly average.
Which means I'll never buy "appearance" items at the first few weeks, until I know I play this game enough to justify the cost... Then I wouldn't pay anything that changes my life-style outside the game.
Though I don't remember I ever did that before, I just don't play these games much.
Yeah, the average player doesn't spend much, but then there are the few people who spend absurd tons of money.
Interesting analysis, very balanced and truthful, congratulations.
thanks man, glad you like it :)
Muy Buen canal de Youtube Amigo @kralizec. analisis muy importante la comunidad steemit,saludos y exitos para ti.
Gracias, hombre, si te gusta mi canal de Youtube, ¡asegúrate de suscribirte!
If they want better skins, why not.
Where it starts to get annoying, when pay to win is involved.
That gets on my nerves.
well, pretty obviously, whenever P2W is involved that is an obvious problem and gamers have (IMO) learned to be pissed about that.
But we also need to understand that a large percentage of gamers are minors, people whose brains are still not fully developed and companies are taking advantage of them.
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