Payday 2 Crimefest Day 1: Now with Microtransactions!

[Benpasko]

So, today as day one of the 'free' Crimefest update, they added a crate system! But wait, unlike CS:GO or TF2, these skins give stats!

The steam and reddit Payday 2 communities are currently exploding, mods are deleting posts everywhere, it's a good old time. For extra fun, here are some quotes from overkill saying they'd never add microtransactions.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/payday-2-wont-have-microtransactions/1100-6410303/

Asked if Overkill Software anticipated putting microtransactions in the game, Goldfarb bluntly stated, "No. No. God, I hope not. Never. No."

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3127521

Let me explain.

The Steam page for PAYDAY 2 has been updated based on your feedback. We've made it clear that PAYDAY 2 will have no micro-transactions whatsoever (shame on you if you thought otherwise!) and we've made it more clear that the PAYDAY loot bag is part of the Career Criminal Edition as well.

And bear in mind, this is already a 30 dollar game with 100 dollars of DLC. Now here we are, with a 2.50 loot roulette, that even if you DON'T use it still replaces end-of-mission drops with dead-weight crates.

 

[BOO47]

At this point, it doesn't even matter what the other "free" content will be for crimefest, as it can't possibly make up for this load of crap.

 

[Nirallus]

It wouldn't matter if they undid all of it tomorrow. They burned all trust and goodwill anyone could possibly have had for them. And this is among the people who were willing to forgive Overkill's endless DLC, which already made the game "soft pay-to-win".

As if all of the above wasn't enough, the update also sent weapon balance into an absolutely ridiculous state. Pistols had their damage doubled or tripled, until they can one-shot cops in the hardest difficulty. Before the patch, a few Shotguns were powerful and arguably OP; afterwards, they all have such terrible damage that there's no reason to use them. Most assault rifles are now absurdly inaccurate as well, but some of them have had their total ammo pool doubled for no immediately obvious reason.

Not even the modding community can save this game now, because the update removed the LUA hook that enabled mods to work.

 

[gigastar]

Well, knew Overkill were already taking it down this slippery slope, what with them endless weapon DLC packs that you have to buy or good luck finding a pug game where you wont get booted.

Didnt expect them to go right off the deep end though.

As if all of the above wasn't enough, the update also sent weapon balance into an absolutely ridiculous state. Pistols had their damage doubled or tripled, until they can one-shot cops in the hardest difficulty. Before the patch, a few Shotguns were powerful and arguably OP; afterwards, they all have such terrible damage that there's no reason to use them. Most assault rifles are now absurdly inaccurate as well, but some of them have had their total ammo pool doubled for no immediately obvious reason.

Not even the modding community can save this game now, because the update removed the LUA hook that enabled mods to work.

One might say thats a bit overkill.

...ill shut up now.

 

[LaughingAtlas]

I'd like to think that they have something planned in the next day or so that'll actually make this seem okay, but time will tell.

Personally, I was hoping that the colorful guns meant we could apply mask materials to weapons, because then I might finally get some use out of the boatload of materials I've thoroughly decided I don't want to wear on my face. Going around with a wooden flamethrower would have been entertaining all by itself, I think.

 

[Aeshi]

Wow, that's kind of depressing. I haven't played PD2 in quite a while, and given most of these changes I don't see myself starting again anytime soon.

 

[Atmos Duality]

As if all of the above wasn't enough, the update also sent weapon balance into an absolutely ridiculous state. Pistols had their damage doubled or tripled, until they can one-shot cops in the hardest difficulty. Before the patch, a few Shotguns were powerful and arguably OP; afterwards, they all have such terrible damage that there's no reason to use them. Most assault rifles are now absurdly inaccurate as well, but some of them have had their total ammo pool doubled for no immediately obvious reason.

Before, there was a sort of "game logic order" to weapon balance.
Now? It's completely FUBAR.

My Sig 40 does more damage than my Eagle Heavy rifle, is more accurate, just about as stable, has more ammo and is infinitely more concealable.
(both are fully-modded)

Hope you like the Desert Eagle and revolvers, because they're suddenly as powerful as full Sniper Rifles.

Though I think the real winner of the Twilight Zone Award goes to the Krinkov SMG.
Currently, it's a straight upgrade over any AK...which is reality bending, since it's SMG-CARBINE variant of those weapons). (it's a bit like a golf cart outrace a sedan)

And I hope you didn't buy any shotgun heavy DLC, like the Gage Shotgun pack or the BBQ weapon pack, because the nerfs made those weapons (and DB shotgun ammo) utterly useless or superfluous.

EDIT: Oh, and I also hope you really REALLY like the skills "Silent Killer" and "The Professional", (Aced). Because right now there is literally ZERO REASON to use compensators over Silencers/Suppressors thanks to the changes in mods and damage scaling.

Not even the modding community can save this game now, because the update removed the LUA hook that enabled mods to work.

This is what actually caused me and my friend to quit playing PD2 entirely. We can ignore the TF2-esque bullshit, and adapt to new metas, but she needs mod support to fix the atrocious FOV (to avoid motion sickness), and we both use mods to fix that fucking hack-job zoom/scope-sensitivity.
(vanilla PD2 doesn't scale down your mouse sensitivity when using a scope. It makes precision weapons like snipers and DMRs far worse)

 

[Nirallus]

I also have to add, the excuse that "it doesn't affect you because you aren't obligated to participate" isn't available in this case. Even fans of Payday 2 would say that the worst part of the game (after shit netcode and total lack of anti-cheat) is the random drop system. There are only three ways to get items in the game, two of them only became available recently, and all of them are random. The "big" two are end-of-heist rewards and Offshore Payday (the third is limited daily/weekly jobs), which can now possibly award you a crate instead of an item. They are not "additional" drops but actually replace the reward you would have had, so now the grind is even longer. Keep rushing Normal Jewelry Store!

 

[LaughingAtlas]

I second the weapons thing being quite FUBAR.

I played a bit today and found my Mastermind-heavy build (the specialization that really likes pistols) was fine and dandy in the new system, that my interceptor handgun was not only as useful for pistol-sniping as ever (took out a few snipers when all I could see was their lasers), but noticeably more powerful than perhaps what most of my team was using. Damn thing does a hundred damage per shot now, with mods and perks. I think it used to be 20-25 or so. So, while I'm going around feeling all potent and shit, I'm also shouting my team mates off the floor more often, it seems, doubly so if they're carrying shotguns.

Disregarding the microtransactions for a moment, I can at least say the new weapons system seems to be okay for Masterminds, though less so for everyone else. The game is now less fun for people who don't like being the medic, which I think is most of them. There's that now.

Captcha: 'evil genius', another term for a Mastermind. Popped up before I'd typed a goddamn word. I used to think people were making up their captchas, but this thing really is a little scary.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I found this post interesting.
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3127521

The Steam page for PAYDAY 2 has been updated based on your feedback. We've made it clear that PAYDAY 2 will have no micro-transactions whatsoever (shame on you if you thought otherwise!) and we've made it more clear that the PAYDAY loot bag is part of the Career Criminal Edition as well.

Dated: May 24, 2013

 

[laggyteabag]

I bought Payday 2 on launch day, and I loved that game to pieces.

Last time I played it was 10th December 2014.

The endless and seemingly constant release of DLC really killed the game for me, because there were just so many heists and weapons, and it was just too difficult to keep up with it all whilst justifying my purchases.

Throwing microtransactions into the mix, too, is also disgraceful. Not only is the game a premium product, but it is also showered with more DLC than most games 5x over, and then they think that they can just throw microtransactions into the mix as well?

Nah.

Im just glad that I left that game when I did. It is clear that the glory days of Payday 2 are well and truly over.

 

[Pirate Of PC Master race]

Saddle up boys, Payday 2 is probably going to F2P town by the looks of it.

No reason to burn bridges... unless Overkill has a plan B.

Edit: If I remember correctly, Payday was a game about heist... player base is certainly getting that, ha ha.

 

[Lightspeaker]

I bought Payday 2 in a sale having kinda liked the idea in Payday 1 and wanted to see if they'd improved on it. And frankly it didn't really feel that they had. The weapon unlocking and dropping system was confusing and I had no real idea what I was doing with just too much stuff there. But I still played from time to time because the gameplay was fun, even if the unlock system seemed bad.

But they've just gone and made that unlock system even WORSE. X-(

 

[RJ 17]

*sniff-sniff*

I smell a Jimquisition episode coming. :3

Or at least a conversation about it on the podcast he does with Lara and Gavin.

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

Wait werent all the weapon packs already microtransactions? Payday 2 has been pay to win for a loong time.

 

[Mutant1988]

I gave up on the game last year when they ran a pre-order price-hiked time exclusive DLC crowd funding scheme.

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest. Have they patched the next generation versions of the game to be playable yet or is actually fixing the game still at a lower priority than putting out poorly made DLC packages and running idiotic promotions?

 

[DoPo]

*sniff-sniff*

I smell a Jimquisition episode coming. :3

Or at least a conversation about it on the podcast he does with Lara and Gavin.

Well, there is this [http://www.thejimquisition.com/2015/10/payday-2-has-microtransactions/]. I don't know if it counts or not.

 

[Barbas]

*sniff-sniff*

I smell a Jimquisition episode coming. :3

Or at least a conversation about it on the podcast he does with Lara and Gavin.

He's had to change the plans for his latest episode thanks to these game industry shenanigans.

 

[RJ 17]

*sniff-sniff*

I smell a Jimquisition episode coming. :3

Or at least a conversation about it on the podcast he does with Lara and Gavin.

He's had to change the plans for his latest episode thanks to these game industry shenanigans.

I did like how the intro to his last video started with "Seriously guys, I don't want to keep harping on Ubisoft, Konami, and Digital Homicide. I've got tons of other topics that I'd love to talk about! But every single week, it seems one of those three is pulling some BS that just demands to be addressed!"

*sniff-sniff*

I smell a Jimquisition episode coming. :3

Or at least a conversation about it on the podcast he does with Lara and Gavin.

Well, there is this [http://www.thejimquisition.com/2015/10/payday-2-has-microtransactions/]. I don't know if it counts or not.

That post would certainly seem to indicate that - assuming Jim does his show by popular demand - this will be addressed tomorrow.