Team Fortress 2 Adds Microtransactions

[John Funk]

Team Fortress 2 Adds Microtransactions

Did that one item that you always wanted in Valve's Team Fortress 2 just never drop? Now you can buy it.

Valve's popular FPS has been getting steadily more MMO-like since its inception, with characters getting a persistent inventory, loot drops, and even crafted items. Now, Valve is adding another of the free-to-play MMO mainstays: microtransactions.

The "Mann-Conomy Update," as "Polycount Pack," [http://www.teamfortress.com/mannconomy/FAQ/] Valve seems to be intending on adding every almost single item to the store - eventually. It's still Valve Time over there, after all.

The TF2 team would like to assure players that they will not be selling maps - in the interests of not splintering the community - and that every single item that is purchasable will still be a drop in the game, so nobody will be able to buy an advantage, only convenience. The developer will still be rolling out free updates to the game as it always has, reads the blog page.

And yet, none of that will stop the almost-certainly-impending deafening outcry from the community that Valve has "ruined TF2!"

In other news, I am apparently a psychic [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/view-from-the-road/7655-View-from-the-Road-No-Such-Thing-as-a-Free-Lunch].

Permalink

Holy shit. You did call it, in a vague and not completely accurate manner...

You mean like all psychics?

It's a joke.

My knee-jerk reaction was "curses, Valve's selling out and TF2 is becoming an MMO!" But upon further consideration, it's not like you're getting an advantage, and it's about time Valve got direct compensation for all the assload of work they've put into TF2 post-release.

In all fairness, they do. It's called all the money you spend on Steam for non-Valve products, which they get a cut of. Keeping you coming back to TF2 (and ergo Steam) with constant updates is in Valve's best fiscal interest.

TANSTAAFL.

 

[Eric the Orange]

Well as long as they don't start adding things to the store you can't get in game, then I don't see a problem.

 

[Irridium]

In all fairness, they do. It's called all the money you spend on Steam for non-Valve products, which they get a cut of. Keeping you coming back to TF2 (and ergo Steam) with constant updates is in Valve's best fiscal interest.

TANSTAAFL.

Plus, they give a cut to the people who made the items themselves, which is a very nice thing to do.

 

[John Funk]

In all fairness, they do. It's called all the money you spend on Steam for non-Valve products, which they get a cut of. Keeping you coming back to TF2 (and ergo Steam) with constant updates is in Valve's best fiscal interest.

TANSTAAFL.

Plus, they give a cut to the people who made the items themselves, which is a very nice thing to do.

Sure.

But anyone who acts like this is out of the goodness of Valve's heart is kidding themselves. Valve is as much a company as anyone else

 

[ProfessorLayton]

I don't understand... what happens if you buy an item with real money and then get another one in a drop for free? At least make the items you can buy exclusive.

But thank GOD they've added the trading feature. I remember when we first got the thing where you would get random drops and people were saying "Yeah, they said that they're going to add trading items soon."

 

[mindlesspuppet]

Why does the general public get so upset over microtransactions that don't actually effect the game at all? It's the same thing with WoW mounts, I don't get why people get so worked up about them.

 

[Zedar0]

This is a slippery, slippery slope Valve and I really hope you don't fall down it.

This is what worries me the most. I would only be minorly bothered if it were, as all the fanboys are claiming, a way to make money off the impatient and if it had no effect on gameplay other than delaying unlocks, but consider the following:

They added "item sets" for all 5 of the packs that were released. Snipers (for example) with all of the new items equipped, INCLUDING the hat, cannot be killed with headshots. Yes, you read that right. With hats being as rare as they are, the only realistic way to benefit from the item set bonuses is to pony up the cash, and this is just plain sleazy.

A line has been crossed, and it's a pretty meaningful one. I might keep playing (hey, I already paid my 20 bucks and it's not like they can force me to buy hats), but I no longer trust them to do what's right for the game and I think a lot of people are feeling betrayed right now.

You forgot one detail. If the Sniper gets the headshot immunity by equiping the entire set, he also loses the ability to kill with headshots, thanks to the new rifle.

The problem isn't that it's over or underpowered. I was there when they made the pyro's backburner a +50HP, no falloff beast of a weapon and I dealt with it just fine until they (rightly) nerfed it.

The problem is that they are taking these super-rare, cosmetic-only items (which I'm fine with valve selling if it means continued TF2 support) and tying ingame effects to them. This is what worries me. If people let this fly, what will Valve try next?

Which carries with it a stigma all on its own. If I fly around town on my Celestial Steed in WoW, everyone knows I paid money for it, as opposed to I don't know, earning the rarest in-game drop. Here, you can just pretend to be uber.

It's still blatant hypocrisy, and to give Valve a tongue bath over it is laughable.

The problem with both arguments here is that none of the TF2 items are rare at all, so you can't compare them to, say, the rarest mount in WoW. Drops are plentiful, and even if you don't get the right drop, you can easily craft it thanks to all those spare items.

Again, we're talking about hats here. And weapons, but almost everyone who wants them already has them (yes, even Polycount). I don't see anything to be worried about, since nothing critical will be pay-only.

 

[reyttm4]

Another reason why I love Valve.

 

[Irridium]

Sure.

But anyone who acts like this is out of the goodness of Valve's heart is kidding themselves. Valve is as much a company as anyone else

Well yeah, but that doesn't mean they still can't do nice things just because its nice to do.

 

[Zayren]

It's not so much the transactions that piss me off, but the fact you pretty much DO need to use them to remain competitive. Or, rely on totally random drops to get the set bonuses, since the Soldier/Scout weapons are crazy OP, adding the set bonus is just retardonkulous.

 

[JacobPlackett]

I don't understand... what happens if you buy an item with real money and then get another one in a drop for free? At least make the items you can buy exclusive.

But thank GOD they've added the trading feature. I remember when we first got the thing where you would get random drops and people were saying "Yeah, they said that they're going to add trading items soon."

I love reading this in Layton's voice.

But I think that this is stupid.

 

[wrecker77]

Did that one item that you always wanted in Valve's Team Fortress 2 just never drop?

Nope. I get things prettey easy and so do players Iv' played with. i don't really see the need for it at all.

As long as this is ALL they do, I am totally fine with this. If they start doing anything with exclusive content or anything of the sort, than their is a huge problem that will tainte the near perfect set up of team fortress 2. Its just... So great as it is.

 

[FlashHero]

DANNG>..Vavle IS selling the Hats for $20 ...thats alot for a hat lol

 

[Twilight.falls]

This is easily one of the best things Valve has done.

I don't really see how anyone can find this a bad thing, they obviously didn't read the faq.

 

[Lord Honk]

As long as it doesn't break balancing, go right ahead.

For me, microtransactions are like homosexuals: I let others have their fun with them, they're just not my cup of tea.

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

Fair enough, Valve.

 

[supagama]

the joke is i cant play tf2 AFTER I BOUGHT IT! it worked for 1 day and now it always says the servers are too busy

 

[ryai458]

So I guess Valve isn't the messiah anymore, just because they are acting like a business.