http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/03/16/news_6120586.html
Wow what don't I have to pay for? Just xbox live, the HDD and whats on it.
Wow what don't I have to pay for? Just xbox live, the HDD and whats on it.
Analyst sees big upside in next-gen Xbox Marketplace
- Thread starter Kesler
- Start date
So, do you think it's a good thing or bad thing, those microtransactions?
Upside or downside? Does the title of the thread mean an "Analyst" sees it as an "upside" i.e. a good thing?
Upside or downside? Does the title of the thread mean an "Analyst" sees it as an "upside" i.e. a good thing?
therealskywolf
Regular
I think its good.
Actually i believe the casual gamer will get more into it than the hardcore gamer.
I think its good and fair, many people get all worked up when there's no additional maps or levels, and when you have to pay for it (Pgr2 for example) they get all worked up because they think it should be free.
Well i think not, you buy what comes in the box, you pay 50$ for a x hour game with x weapons, if you turn the box around it doesnt say "Free content will later be added by online".
This is a way to attract more teams to add more content online without thinking "Damm, i'm doing this for free? Wtf....", so there will be way more downloadable content for games.
Oh but and the pc? They have it for free, really? Then whats up with the expansion packs? What you get for free is mods(from the comunity) and patches.
I think this way its fair for everybody.
In Fps with online i would gladly pay 3$ for 2 extra maps, or for 1 extra map and 2 extra weapons and game modes, and things like that.
In gt4 i would gladly pay 3$ for 2 extra cars that dont exist on the game.
And in the end, no one can bitch because if you dont want it you dont buy it, but sucking on the free titie is going to end
Actually i believe the casual gamer will get more into it than the hardcore gamer.
I think its good and fair, many people get all worked up when there's no additional maps or levels, and when you have to pay for it (Pgr2 for example) they get all worked up because they think it should be free.
Well i think not, you buy what comes in the box, you pay 50$ for a x hour game with x weapons, if you turn the box around it doesnt say "Free content will later be added by online".
This is a way to attract more teams to add more content online without thinking "Damm, i'm doing this for free? Wtf....", so there will be way more downloadable content for games.
Oh but and the pc? They have it for free, really? Then whats up with the expansion packs? What you get for free is mods(from the comunity) and patches.
I think this way its fair for everybody.
In Fps with online i would gladly pay 3$ for 2 extra maps, or for 1 extra map and 2 extra weapons and game modes, and things like that.
In gt4 i would gladly pay 3$ for 2 extra cars that dont exist on the game.
And in the end, no one can bitch because if you dont want it you dont buy it, but sucking on the free titie is going to end
But u're not paying the dev, u're paying the publisher.... Unless i'm missing something..
Why should additional maps and levels be available for download?
I've never really considered that feature to be any kind of "killer app" on console games, or even PC games for that matter.
If a game is designed well, it has all the maps and levels it needs.
I don't want a game which when I buy it at full price, only has some half of the levels on the discs, and if I'd want to finish it I'd have to dl the rest of the levels and pay more.
Additional levels that you can play after you've completed the main game? I rather move on to a completely another game at that point, besides those additional levels are usually of lesser quality than those that "belong" to the game and storyline.
In primarily multiplayer games like UT2004 I see the additional and community built levels as much better and interesting thing. But even in this case, the game on disc should still come with enough levels (more than about 5) so that the game you bought wouldn't feel like a demo.
And I would think twice paying for them, as it would be likely if you must pay for a level it'll have less players than the free ones.
I think in the end it'll be up to the game publisher to decide whether they charge for the additional content and how much, in which case I think it wil be used only for some major content updates.
A line form that Gamespot article by that anal yst
Edit: Who is this McNealy anal yst guy anyway? Am I wrong but doesn't he seem to always have a positive comment ready soon after Microsoft announces something xbox?
Maybe I'm just paranoid again 8)
I've never really considered that feature to be any kind of "killer app" on console games, or even PC games for that matter.
If a game is designed well, it has all the maps and levels it needs.
I don't want a game which when I buy it at full price, only has some half of the levels on the discs, and if I'd want to finish it I'd have to dl the rest of the levels and pay more.
Additional levels that you can play after you've completed the main game? I rather move on to a completely another game at that point, besides those additional levels are usually of lesser quality than those that "belong" to the game and storyline.
In primarily multiplayer games like UT2004 I see the additional and community built levels as much better and interesting thing. But even in this case, the game on disc should still come with enough levels (more than about 5) so that the game you bought wouldn't feel like a demo.
And I would think twice paying for them, as it would be likely if you must pay for a level it'll have less players than the free ones.
I think in the end it'll be up to the game publisher to decide whether they charge for the additional content and how much, in which case I think it wil be used only for some major content updates.
A line form that Gamespot article by that anal yst
A game becomes more immersive if you pay for it even after you've bought it from shop??? ... only an anal yst can think like that
Edit: Who is this McNealy anal yst guy anyway? Am I wrong but doesn't he seem to always have a positive comment ready soon after Microsoft announces something xbox?
Maybe I'm just paranoid again 8)
MightyHedgehog
Newcomer
london-boy said:
Well, unless the developer isn't getting paid to create the content, or has content 'stored' for later consumption or for use only with a separate fee, who's making the content for gamers to buy? It's a good idea and one that'll work itself out. People who charge too much or give too little will be penalized with a lack of microtransactions. Buyer's market.
therealskywolf
Regular
london-boy said:
A cut would belong to the Developer, because they have to get paid to do more content.
And rabidrabbit, i think this is more about Multiplayer games, where downloadable content down the road will extend the game's life. Kinda like maintaining the game fresh, the single player portion will allways be Final.
Maybe a weapon or somthing like that could be added down the road but thats it.
If someting like Morrowind Mods were available at $1 a piece I'd be happy to pay that. With the creator getting money they'll doa better job. At the moment free mods are often buggy/unfinished/poorly scripted etc. simply because the workload needed to push up quality is substantial and why bother if you get nothing in return (unless you have no other life!)?
As for McNealy, the past year I too have felt him singing MS's praises and constantly predicting doom for Sony. Don't know how he got his job, nor how he justifies keeping it. What do people pay him for? Personal speculations? Hell, pop on a forum like this and you get equally valid speculations for free!
As for McNealy, the past year I too have felt him singing MS's praises and constantly predicting doom for Sony. Don't know how he got his job, nor how he justifies keeping it. What do people pay him for? Personal speculations? Hell, pop on a forum like this and you get equally valid speculations for free!
It's a bit different with ringtones, as cellphones are devices that are used very much in public, your friends see and hear it.
A "hip" or "fun" ringtone is something kids like to have so that it gets attention from others. It's like customizing cars, motorbikes, wearing clothes that are personal etc..
A games console is something you use at home, it's mostly seen only by yourself and family members.
"Modding" a game console, or the games is not something you "show off", it's mainly for your personal pleasure.
I think MS has misunderstood the "modding" culture slightly if they think modding your xbox and games will be a major marketing point.
Besides, I don't think buying more levels, cars, weapons... for a game makes the game that much more personal.
A "hip" or "fun" ringtone is something kids like to have so that it gets attention from others. It's like customizing cars, motorbikes, wearing clothes that are personal etc..
A games console is something you use at home, it's mostly seen only by yourself and family members.
"Modding" a game console, or the games is not something you "show off", it's mainly for your personal pleasure.
I think MS has misunderstood the "modding" culture slightly if they think modding your xbox and games will be a major marketing point.
Besides, I don't think buying more levels, cars, weapons... for a game makes the game that much more personal.
There's a market for PC modding though, with dumb neon lights and things that are totally lost on me. And besides, though MS have talked of XB360 mods, micropayment isn't about 'mods' as in modifications, but 'mods' as in modules - extra features/mission/content for existing games, for which there's certainly a huge culture and BioWare has shown reasonable sales of it's professional mods for NWN, from what I know.
PC modding is again much different thing, as you are not limited to the few choices a manufacturer/publisher gives you.
A modded PC is often very unique, and there's the joy of building something with your own hands involved, which I think with the "moddable consoles" is limited to snapping on some colour "skin" for the hardware or downloading pre-made "skins" for software.
About the "modules".. I don't know, maybe it's just me but I've never really got into them. When I buy a game I play it through with the content that comes with the package, never really bothered dl'ing any additional levels or "mods" for any of my PC games.
I just get bored of them after I've finished them, and move onto a new, totally different game and experience.
For multiplayer maps, the mods do work though, keeps the game fresh.
I did dl the Team Fortress for HL though at the time, and I think it was excellent value (as it was free and I spent a lot of time online with it.
But it was essentially a totally different game from HL, and I think if similar would be for xbox2, it would be sold as a totally new game at full price, not as a downloadable mod for some exsisting game at a low "micropayment" price.
A modded PC is often very unique, and there's the joy of building something with your own hands involved, which I think with the "moddable consoles" is limited to snapping on some colour "skin" for the hardware or downloading pre-made "skins" for software.
About the "modules".. I don't know, maybe it's just me but I've never really got into them. When I buy a game I play it through with the content that comes with the package, never really bothered dl'ing any additional levels or "mods" for any of my PC games.
I just get bored of them after I've finished them, and move onto a new, totally different game and experience.
For multiplayer maps, the mods do work though, keeps the game fresh.
I did dl the Team Fortress for HL though at the time, and I think it was excellent value (as it was free
and I spent a lot of time online with it.But it was essentially a totally different game from HL, and I think if similar would be for xbox2, it would be sold as a totally new game at full price, not as a downloadable mod for some exsisting game at a low "micropayment" price.
It all depends .
If its 1 map and 1 new weapon for 5$ that isn't worth it . But if its 10 new lvls then sure i would pick it up .
Look at super smash brothers .
Say a new one comes out on the ns5. It has 20 characters and 20 maps .
A year later they release sneak peaks of new characters for the next game. So they release say a 2 or 3 new characters and 10 maps for 5$ . The characters only have some of the moves that they will have in the new system .
i make out cause it just extended the life of the game for a small fee and the publisher makes out cause i'm now hyped up for the next in the series
If its 1 map and 1 new weapon for 5$ that isn't worth it . But if its 10 new lvls then sure i would pick it up .
Look at super smash brothers .
Say a new one comes out on the ns5. It has 20 characters and 20 maps .
A year later they release sneak peaks of new characters for the next game. So they release say a 2 or 3 new characters and 10 maps for 5$ . The characters only have some of the moves that they will have in the new system .
i make out cause it just extended the life of the game for a small fee and the publisher makes out cause i'm now hyped up for the next in the series
Wouldn't it make more sense for the publisher to release a SMB sequel at full price then? That's what is done now anyway, I don't see them going for a less profitable model next gen
rabidrabbit said:Wouldn't it make more sense for the publisher to release a SMB sequel at full price then? That's what is done now anyway, I don't see them going for a less profitable model next gen
Thats not whats done now . Now we are getting one smb per generation . Each one has a brand new engine . More expensive than just putting out maps and another character on an existing engine
Although the collector in me shudders at the thought, I think new kinds of distribution will only benefit consumers.
Example. Think of a system where you pay to play by the hour. Instead of being out 50 bucks when I'm lured by a pretty game box with a crappy game inside, I'm finished after an hour or so. Meanwhile, games like Halo would make much more money than the 50 bucks I threw down for it. Quality would be rewarded, and shovelware would fail miserably.
It would be interesting to see arcade type elements pop up in this kind of a scenario as well. Do really well on a level?.. got lots of points or frags? Free hour for you! =)
Example. Think of a system where you pay to play by the hour. Instead of being out 50 bucks when I'm lured by a pretty game box with a crappy game inside, I'm finished after an hour or so. Meanwhile, games like Halo would make much more money than the 50 bucks I threw down for it. Quality would be rewarded, and shovelware would fail miserably.
It would be interesting to see arcade type elements pop up in this kind of a scenario as well. Do really well on a level?.. got lots of points or frags? Free hour for you! =)
Just don't buy it already.Kesler said:
One of the greatest flaws right now on X-Box live is that you don't pay for downloadable content, so publisher/developers move on to the next game quickly because their is no real profit in it. A perfect example of this community shattering is UBI soft with Rainbow 6. They've released so many versions that players are split across several games dilluting the online user base.
I have no problem spending more money for new levels and updates. So it may cost a little to customize a player model with a different skin, thats cool as long as that investment doesn't go to waste by the publisher/developer abandoning the game quickly.
I have no problem spending more money for new levels and updates. So it may cost a little to customize a player model with a different skin, thats cool as long as that investment doesn't go to waste by the publisher/developer abandoning the game quickly.
