Clearing Up Dead Space 3's Microtransaction Controversy

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

To be honest, I really wish people would stop complaining about DS3's microtransactions because if a publisher demands that they be added (something the developers have no say in), I would very much prefer that they're done like DS3.

And I'd rather have people be very vocal about this because monetizing one-time-use cheat codes is something we do NOT want to become standard practice in singleplayer games.
Besides, you just said it's basically 100% pointless and even harmful to the natural flow of the game and I agree. Such is the nature of cheats. So why should people not complain about something that is, at best, pointless and can only get worse from there?

What is it with that "I wish people stopped complaining" attitude?

What I don't get is how the game is, in any way, worse for me, who doesn't use micro transaction DLC, just because all other players get the option to pay for that DLC to get an edge in thesingle player game. I am not losing out, someone who has cash to spend and wants to run through the game in a godlike fashion can do that and neither of us has to forfeit our fun in favor of the other.

It is an addition that doesn't hurt anyone, as far as DLC goes it is pretty benign.

 

[loa]

What I don't get is how the game is, in any way, worse for me, who doesn't use micro transaction DLC, just because all other players get the option to pay for that DLC to get an edge in thesingle player game. I am not losing out, someone who has cash to spend and wants to run through the game in a godlike fashion can do that and neither of us has to forfeit our fun in favor of the other.

It is an addition that doesn't hurt anyone, as far as DLC goes it is pretty benign.

It doesn't improve the game in any way and may inspire future games to adopt this "feature" with more pronounced effects on the game experience.
Charging money for ammunition in games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.354961-EA-John-Riccitiello-thinking-about-charging-money-for-bullets-in-games?page=1] for example.
Remember, this happens on top of the game being full price, having day 1 DLC and having the next round of DLC readily announced well before it was even released.
How much is too much?

 

[bug_of_war]

This is EXACTLY what I said in a thread made to bash the micro-transactions. I am SO glad you have come out and said the micro-transactions are not forced apon users, it shows that EA isn't a monster and that some people need to hold their prejudice. Who cares if it makes EA money, unless you give it to them they can't take your money. TAKE THAT EA HATERS! They're not the worst company in the world, they just have somewhat questionable practices similar to most companies.

 

[Lunar Templar]

snip

Thank you sir for speaking the truth on the matter.

Honestly I think all the rage really just stems from DS3 being an EA game and well, yeah -.- we all know that song and dance round these parts

 

[ThriKreen]

Charging money for ammunition in games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.354961-EA-John-Riccitiello-thinking-about-charging-money-for-bullets-in-games?page=1] for example.

So he's talking about the psychology of paying for micro-transactions and impulse buying and when to hit the player with the transaction, using refilling your ammo in the middle of a fight as an example.

Never did he claim they would actually use that, making you pay for reloads in a competitive game.

 

[co2maker]

I too have zerged through impossible mode and was tbh a bit let down by it. I bought the preorder so i got the Evangilizer gun which was pretty much the only gun i used for the whole game. So at the end i was standing knee high in resources that i couldn't really see a use for since i got so god damn much ammo and med packs I was destroying those as well for even more "useless" resources just because i had inventory problems. So from my experience no you don't need to pay for the DLC extras at all. And i found the "exploit" as well but that just meant even more resources i didn't know what to do with.

But that might just be the Evangilizer gun that pretty much ruined that whole thing for me i don't know. Started Classic mode and that means "only Dead Space 1-2 blueprints" BUT I apparently also have my beloved Evangilizer gun there so that mode is just an easier difficulty than the one I've already finished. So forget the DLC's (unless it's the weapon packs i guess) it's the preorder bonuses that gives a edge in my opinion.

 

[Gethsemani_v1legacy]

It doesn't improve the game in any way and may inspire future games to adopt this "feature" with more pronounced effects on the game experience.
Charging money for ammunition in games [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.354961-EA-John-Riccitiello-thinking-about-charging-money-for-bullets-in-games?page=1] for example.
Remember, this happens on top of the game being full price, having day 1 DLC and having the next round of DLC readily announced well before it was even released.
How much is too much?

That is a nice slippery slope fallacy. If your entire argument hinges on a rhetorical fallacy there's really not much more to discuss.

 

[Nazulu]

To be honest, I really wish people would stop complaining about DS3's microtransactions because if a publisher demands that they be added (something the developers have no say in), I would very much prefer that they're done like DS3.

And I'd rather have people be very vocal about this because monetizing one-time-use cheat codes is something we do NOT want to become standard practice in singleplayer games.
Besides, you just said it's basically 100% pointless and even harmful to the natural flow of the game and I agree. Such is the nature of cheats. So why should people not complain about something that is, at best, pointless and can only get worse from there?

What is it with that "I wish people stopped complaining" attitude?

Because it hurts their feelings or some shit.

I'm with you on this. It's not exactly for the reasons you said, but because I just don't like how they take advantage of these people (I know a lot of people won't get that). I reckon cheats should be free, and the game should make money because it's great and not any thing else.

I can understand what Kopikatsu means with the publishers forcing it and we shouldn't look down on the developers and their game (if that's really how it is). However, it shouldn't just be completely ignored either.

 

[SecondPrize]

Next, the so called 'exploit' that 'ruins' the point of the DLC. The 'exploit' involves 20~ seconds of work for a single randomized item that can be repeated ad infinitum. Thing is, you can get more than that by just playing the game normally. The exploit is largely pointless.

How exactly do you get more by playing it? Do you average better than one item every 20 seconds over a playthrough?

 

[Kopikatsu]

Next, the so called 'exploit' that 'ruins' the point of the DLC. The 'exploit' involves 20~ seconds of work for a single randomized item that can be repeated ad infinitum. Thing is, you can get more than that by just playing the game normally. The exploit is largely pointless.

How exactly do you get more by playing it? Do you average better than one item every 20 seconds over a playthrough?

Yeah. A lot more. And if you wanted to grind more, just use the chapter select to go to chapter 7 and clear the Waystation of Feeders. Feeders are basically the Pack from DS2, they're your little cash cows. Weak, and there are bazillions of them with each one dropping an item

I mean, the fact that chapter select exists at all makes most of these respawning spots pointless, because you can go back and grind at any point.

 

[VanQ]

Thanks for clearing all that up. Now if I could just install the game without having to reinstall Origin, I'd buy it because the game looks great and I do want to play it. I really don't want to have to play it on my PS3 but if I see it in the bargain bin I may pick it up down the line.

Oh, can I play split screen or do I have to have an online pass to play the co-op? This isn't a deal breaker for me as I prefer Dead Space solo but it could be a fun game to play split screen with a mate down the line if I grab the PS3 version.

 

[VanQ]

It was clunky, slow and intrusive of my other system functions. I decided to remove it completely when my virus scanner warned me that it was attempting to scan my browser history. Plus I have no intention to split my digital library between multiple platforms.

I'm not some crazy Steam fan boy or anything, I simply don't wish to have to manage multiple accounts like that all at once. It becomes difficult to manage after a while.

 

[VanQ]

I tend to only power it up when I want to play the games I have there so I kinda worked around the clunky/slow bit. I have yet to experience it being intrusive.
I see the having a single account to manage as the best argument against all these different systems.

I do however see the for the individual developer/publisher to control access to their content. And I am afterall not upset that I cant long on league of legends through steam.

Oh, it's not that I have an issue managing the millions of various MMO accounts and the like that I have, that's fair enough. I simply don't like the idea of managing simultaneous digital libraries across multiple digital platforms.

I know I bought that game, which service was it on again? Steam? Windows Live? Origin? Ubisoft's platform? GoG?

You get the idea. And like I said, the instant they tried to access my private information that was unrelated to their service, they instantly earned a spot in my blacklist. I won't be installing Origin again.

I must sound like I have a vendetta against EA sometimes. I love many of the games they publish. It's only in this last year they've really done a lot to drive me away. Hopefully they'll set themselves straight in the years to come.

 

[Kopikatsu]

Thanks for clearing all that up. Now if I could just install the game without having to reinstall Origin, I'd buy it because the game looks great and I do want to play it. I really don't want to have to play it on my PS3 but if I see it in the bargain bin I may pick it up down the line.

Oh, can I play split screen or do I have to have an online pass to play the co-op? This isn't a deal breaker for me as I prefer Dead Space solo but it could be a fun game to play split screen with a mate down the line if I grab the PS3 version.

It's not split screen. I have it on the PS3 though, and I find that it's fine. What's your beef with it?

Anywho...I don't even know of any recent games that even do split screen anymore. Tis an artifact of the past, I guess.

 

[major_chaos]

aiming is set to Classic,

I already had most of my concerns about DS3 resolved just by watching videos, but I'm still wondering about this. What is the difference between classic and normal aiming?

 

[Yopaz]

To be honest, I really wish people would stop complaining about DS3's microtransactions because if a publisher demands that they be added (something the developers have no say in), I would very much prefer that they're done like DS3.

And I'd rather have people be very vocal about this because monetizing one-time-use cheat codes is something we do NOT want to become standard practice in singleplayer games.
Besides, you just said it's basically 100% pointless and even harmful to the natural flow of the game and I agree. Such is the nature of cheats. So why should people not complain about something that is, at best, pointless and can only get worse from there?

What is it with that "I wish people stopped complaining" attitude?

I can't see why people like you just have to stick up for the consumer. What the fuck has the consumer ever done for you? Life gets a lot better when you stop complaining, stop thinking and just leave it all in the hands of the might corporation who only has your best in mind.

OT: I haven't played the game myself and I have no interest to do so. I don't really have a problem with this as long as it's completely optional, but I don't like the direction this is headed. This might stop at this and it might not become a bigger deal than it is, but it might turn bad.

 

[Kopikatsu]

aiming is set to Classic,

I already had most of my concerns about DS3 resolved just by watching videos, but I'm still wondering about this. What is the difference between classic and normal aiming?

'Normal' aiming gives you a crosshair. Classic aiming gives your guns a laser sight based on it's function, like Dead Space 1 and 2. For example, the Line Gun has three lights in a horizontal row while the Javelin Gun only has a single dot.

Aiming is a bit easier with Classic if you only have one weapon or weapons with a small number of lights. Trying to use Classic with a weapon that's like...Pulse Rifle on top of a Line Gun just gets crazy and jumbled.