How rockstar is (cleverly) scamming us

[TheKingChivas]

People are still seeing Updates as presents from Santa Claus, instead of basically something to make you buy Cash Card.

 

lol.

 

Maybe that's because the majority of us have never bought a cash card, yet continue to receive free updates?

 

lol.

 

 

 

I've spent €149.99 on the game in 2013 and another €54.99 back in April. That's a total of €204.98 I've spent on the game which is actually a lot of money for me. I don't feel scammed at all though. I paid for the game and I got the game. I like the game so I bought it again. Free Online, DLC's and updates are extras, and considering that almost every dev releases day one paid DLC nowadays we're actually lucky to get not one but 13 FREE DLC's so far.

 

I have the ability to pretend that Cash Cards don't exist. I've never bought a cash card and, honestly, I don't care if they are there. People can buy what they want with their money and it's apparently contributing towards the free DLC's so that's good. It's either grind or pay and if you want my opinion - grind. Takes more time but is more fun and far more rewarding unless you're lazy. If you feel scammed, that's your problem. Others don't feel scammed so you shouldn't make them feel so.

 

I wish people would stop calling the DLCs free though, it's not like R* gives them to us out of the kindness of their hearts, they are paid for, by someone(IE Cash Card buyers), maybe not you personally, but they aren't truly free in the truest sense of the word.

 

 

When you receive something and don't pay for it, it's free. We receive the DLC without paying for it. It's free.

 

Understand now?

[~TKP~]

it's updates btw not DLC. Updates are compulsory to continued play, DLC's are optional.

Nothing R* has released has been an optional download to contiue to play online.

[Thalyn]

This kind of thread is very funny, especially when an "OP" is treated like a dumb, baby, etc... while the "big boys" are just goats and naives....
GTA V/Online isn't a scam, but the Shark cards isn't about deliver "free DLC"...... The Shark Cards AND the "Free" DLC are the business model of GTA Online for Rockstar Games and T2 .

All these Items DLC (like every F2P) were planned even before the release of the game!

 

If you believed you're smart, ok... but don't need to impose your stupidity.

 

Of course Rockstar have this kind of "argumentation" to promote its Shark Cards and...... DLC Items Add.
Think with your brain rather to believe every words from a company...

Grow up kids......

 

 

[TheKingChivas]

This kind of thread is very funny, especially when an "OP" is treated like a dumb, baby, etc... while the "big boys" are just goats and naives....

GTA V/Online isn't a scam, but the Shark cards isn't about deliver "free DLC"...... The Shark Cards AND the "Free" DLC are the business model of GTA Online for Rockstar Games and T2 .

All these Items DLC (like every F2P) were planned even before the release of the game!

 

If you believed you're smart, ok... but don't need to impose your stupidity.

 

Of course Rockstar have this kind of "argumentation" to promote its Shark Cards and...... DLC Items Add.

Think with your brain rather to believe every words from a company...

 

Grow up kids......

 

 

 

 

I don't think anyone arguing the DLCs/updates/whatever the f*ck you want to call them are free doesn't realize that the potential cash card sales are figured into the mix from the beginning...quite the opposite, actually. It's called business and that's how it works. Now, based on what Rockstar figured these cash card sales would generate, they release brand new content to everyone FOR FREE. I don't care if it was developed in a cave a decade ago. If you don't have it, it's new, and if you don't pay for it, it's free.

 

Rockstar doesn't have this "argumentation", stupid people who complain about cash cards they don't have to buy do.

[gepi]

The online portion is subscription free, and as such, needed a way to monetize it (i know those seem conflicting). The best way to accomplish it, was to make new items available at a cost that some grinding was necessary to get them, i.e. expensive.

Not everyone will want to/be able to grind for everything, so they'll have the option of using microtransactions.

The purpose of the game is to make as much money for as long as viably possible, and if someone wants to spend real money to buy a virtual t-shirt/car/etc, it is their choice.

 

It's a much smarter and simpler solution than having paid DLC or monthly subscriptions, be it legally, technically and financially.

 

 

I'm not saying that i agree with microtransactions, because i don't, but i appreciate having the choice to not spend any more money than i want to.

Edited July 8, 2015 by gepi

[EarlyLifeFailure]

Shark Cards are there for those who don't have the time to play GTA Online daily. Besides, they're completely optional. If you have nothing else to do, meaning you have no job, you're on vacation, or not in school, then you have no excuse as to why you have no money, you're just being lazy by doing nothing. If you're trying to make money, do heists with friends, do contact missions, do the random events, do daily objectives, sell vehicles, rob stores, and so on. If you keep it up, you'll have a good amount of money in a short amount of time.

Or get a job in real life and buy a shark card... tuh huh

[zoso80]

And this is a quality rebuttal? Insults and personal attacks.

 

Jeeze, you apologists and fanbois really have no arguments. NONE.

 

The "it is optional" doesn't fly and completely avoids the larger philosophical change within the GTA franchise online and the concerns that are brought up in connection to that philosophical change. Simply put, nice but no cigar. You want to add something constructive now?

 

 

 

 

lool op name is gta matt but he is a rockstar hater, yet he plays it and makes account on a forums dedicated to the game...

 

you sir are a sucker

 

 

 

 

I'm not gonna respond to all your points because they are down right stupid

 

It's kind of sad from my perspective. Contortions of defense while insulting people who disagree. Mindless consumerism run amok while unquestioning the models by which the game operates.

 

This kind of thread is very funny, especially when an "OP" is treated like a dumb, baby, etc... while the "big boys" are just goats and naives....
GTA V/Online isn't a scam, but the Shark cards isn't about deliver "free DLC"...... The Shark Cards AND the "Free" DLC are the business model of GTA Online for Rockstar Games and T2 .

All these Items DLC (like every F2P) were planned even before the release of the game!

 

If you believed you're smart, ok... but don't need to impose your stupidity.

 

Of course Rockstar have this kind of "argumentation" to promote its Shark Cards and...... DLC Items Add.
Think with your brain rather to believe every words from a company...

Grow up kids......

 

 

Edited July 8, 2015 by zoso80

[Guest]

 

And this is a quality rebuttal? Insults and personal attacks.

 

Jeeze, you apologists and fanbois really have no arguments. NONE.

 

The "it is optional" doesn't fly and completely avoids the larger philosophical change within the GTA franchise online and the concerns that are brought up in connection to that philosophical change. Simply put, nice but no cigar.

 

 

 

 

lool op name is gta matt but he is a rockstar hater, yet he plays it and makes account on a forums dedicated to the game...

 

you sir are a sucker

 

 

 

 

I'm not gonna respond to all your points because they are down right stupid

 

 

My god you're boring. You're literally in every thread to do with updates spewing your "COCKSTUR WONNA SELL DEM KESH KERDS" BS and nobody cares. If you're so unsatisfied with the game, why do you still play it?

[Sussus Amongus]

 

Edited April 7, 2020 by Pastry

[Maibatsu545]

 

"I waste my life grinding for overpriced items in real life. Why no do it in GTA?" Brilliant logic.

 

So basically, you want luxury/overpriced items for free?

Good luck with that.

Actually, no. I want to have FUN in a game. Actual FUN. which heists rarely deliver on.

[Arrows to Athens]

I'm not being scammed. I bought the game for $60 and haven't spent a penny more.

 

 

 

 

Do contact missions. You can get $100k an hour at LEAST.

If they double the payout in contact missions there wouldn't be a problem.

[kk9fan97]

Rockstar never once said that the heists were going to pay a ton of money, and most everyone figured that out even before the heist came out, just by looking at how bad the payouts on all the missions/jobs/races are. It was super obvious that the payouts for the heists were going to suck.

[Mattyp1514]

"being scammed" = no time or willingness to put the effort in to get the best items.

[Ruin]

Actually, no. I want to have FUN in a game. Actual FUN. which heists rarely deliver on.

Then buy another game.

Plenty of people find lots of fun in the game as is. If you want a game that let's you do whatever for no effort, try Gary's Mod.

Edited July 8, 2015 by Ruiᴎ

[Shaundi.]

The "it is optional" doesn't fly

Yes it does. They're optional. They're for people who have little time to play the game to earn money.

 

I'm guessing you're one of those f*cking retarded shark card conspiracy theorists?

[SaltyGTAFMember]

Rooftop rumble ai shoot like they have mini guns, I believe

[Shaundi.]

Rooftop rumble ai shoot like they have mini guns, I believe

So what? We know that. Sharp shooting AI has nothing to with Rockstar offering optional shark cards.

[WarnerKiller]

Wah Wah Wah, I want more virtual money for less effort, otherwise I'm going to call Rockstar names and throw my toys out of my pram.

Oh wow, never seen a thread like this before.

[Maibatsu545]

 

Actually, no. I want to have FUN in a game. Actual FUN. which heists rarely deliver on.

 

Then buy another game.

Plenty of people find lots of fun in the game as is. If you want a game that let's you do whatever for no effort, try Gary's Mod.

Why do you keep insisting I don't want to put any effort into anything? what if I don't want to buy another game, what if I want R* to improve the one I have? what then?

 

Why do people feel the need to rabidly defend a company they don't even work for?

Edited July 8, 2015 by Maibatsu545

[dead goon]

Well, this turned out a lot better than I expected. I ran out of likes. Why they are limited, I have no idea.

 

OP is nowhere to be found.

Edited July 8, 2015 by dead goon

[LL Cool L]

cash card hater logic

 

a business wants to make money for for providing a service, it makes them greedy (bare in mind cash cards are optional)

 

when did R* become not for profit?

[Ruin]

what if I don't want to buy another game

Then you deal with whatever this game has. Period.

 

 

what if I want R* to improve the one I have? what then?

We all want it to improve. But making everything spoon-fed and given to us is not an improvement. That's just demanding and bitching.

 

 

Why do people feel the need to rabidly defend a company they don't even work for?

Same reason people feel the need to attack a company that doesn't harm them at all in their daily lives over petty matters, I guess.

[TheKingChivas]

 

what if I don't want to buy another game, what if I want R* to improve the one I have? what then?

 

 

 

 

Then you're sh*t out of luck, sir.

[lessthan3]

 

Rockstar is a company of greed. Everywhere you look there are examples of it. A great example is the small bank in paleto bay in story mode paying a ton of money, BUT THE LARGEST BANK IN LOS SANTOS IN ONLINE PAYS 1,250,000 ON HARD?!?!?! I believe that heists are rockstars fools gold. They tempt you with promise of big pay and money but really they're just a load of crap. During heists 90% of the time you either fail or someone quits. so first off, rockstar is scamming you because their heists don't pay nearly enough. My second point on how they are scamming you is by inflating the prices from story mode to online. In story mode you can see that most prices are cheaper than online. They are hoping that by inflating their prices that you will buy a quick shark card to get cash and afford their outrageous prices (10k for a shirt? Cmon man!) a third way I believe they are scamming us is by making the jobs pay less. They knew rooftop rumble and coveted (remember those) were making us rich and I'll bet my a$$ that shark card sales were at an all time low so they figured hey if we make it hard as heck to earn cash they will have to buy money and if they glitch we can ban them! This really dissapoints me because I always thought rockstar was above this micro transaction bs but I was wrong. Anyway I felt this was necessary because as the ill gotten gains part 2 approaches we all need to be wary that the prices are gonna be beyond expensive because rockstar will just feed us some "special luxury item bs" do you feel the same way about rockstar?

 

This is idiocy on a scale difficult for most of us to comprehend. When you turn 18, I'm sure it will make sense. Right now, the only logical conclusion is another sh*tbag millennial complaining about impediments to their insatiable need for instant gratification.

 

You see, little Matty, in the grown-up world there's a concept called "economics". Economics is the science of the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services.

 

In economics, the drivers for consumption are divided into two categories: need and want.

 

Needs are essential items such as food, clothing, and shelter. They should be the priority with respect of spending income (that think your parents get from jobs that brings money in, where they exchange their labour for wages. That is, they work to get money).

Wants are non-essential luxury items, such as televisions, video game consoles, and apparently in your parents case, contraceptives.

 

In GTAO's economy, there are no real needs. An apartment is a want with a very high practical utility value - sorry, it's super useful to have an apartment - but all the shiny cars, the $10K shirts, the planes etc are wants.

 

What Rockstar does, because they're smarter than lazy, entitled millennial sh*tbags, is make a shortcut available to people who wish to trade their income for in-game cash they'd otherwise have to grind.

 

I can't even begin to express my contempt for your parents for raising you this poorly that you firstly assume any company owes you something and aren't entitled to open up revenue streams for themselves for one; and secondly, that you're so used to having your wants instantly catered to that you're unable to process a scenario where someone says no.

 

There are undoubtedly flaws in R*'s delivery of the GTAO experience, such as the server issues and the apparent ease with which modders can f*ck the game into a cocked hat, but the economy is a thing of wonder. Mostly because it pushes the buttons of a generation so utterly worthless that, in centuries to come, archaeologists will mock us relentlessly for them.

 

Please uninstall the game and throw the discs away.

 

 

That was beautiful.

 

[SmokesWithCigs]

aww... there, there

[KrazyFace]

This is fascinating. Reading some of the responses in here is really showing the generation gaps...

 

The single player element to this game allows you to gather BILLIONS of in-game cash if you have half a brain. I've been using Franklins billions to test and mod (almost) every new vehicle they've added since GTAO's launch. I don't know, maybe even doing what it takes to get that far in single player is too much for some but if that's the case then, really, why are you playing? It's like going to a cinema and complaining you had to sit through a whole movie to see its conclusion.

 

Anyways, Ender_Sai has already said what needs to be said so well, I can't really do much more than grab some popcorn, kick back and read the rest of what's going to follow in this thread...

[Claptrap NL]

You rob a bank, what do you do? You take $ 1.250.000 while normally people go for 10+ mil.....

[Ender_Sai]

 

And this is a quality rebuttal? Insults and personal attacks.

 

Jeeze, you apologists and fanbois really have no arguments. NONE.

 

The "it is optional" doesn't fly and completely avoids the larger philosophical change within the GTA franchise online and the concerns that are brought up in connection to that philosophical change. Simply put, nice but no cigar. You want to add something constructive now?

 

 

But it's not apologism. We're all participants in an economy, right?

 

In real life, I earn more than you but she earns more than me and they earn more than her, etc.

 

What Rockstar said, quoted a few pages back, makes sense. Don't force people to buy DLC or segregate the community out (even the guys at Overkill with Payday found their paid-for DLC weapon and character packs could be included without dividing players - but it's a very different model) - give them the option to exchange real world cash for in-game cash on a simple transactional basis.

 

i.e. to grind, say, GTA$1,250,000 might take me X hours. But I earn $100 an hour, so for 12mins of my work time (GTA$1.25mil = US$19.99) I could get the same result as X hours of game time? And in doing this I'm free to play the game in a manner I deem fit rather than repeatedly doing high ROE missions?

 

Makes perfect sense. Moreover, because the shark cards represent nothing but profit for R* - there's no associated operating cost where X cents per US$ is spoken for - it means they can make the most effective use of that $.

 

I'm not an apologist for them. I just understand market economics and have a) no illusions about any entitlements I mistakenly feel I have, b) no misplaced assumptions about being owed something by R*, and c) an understanding of the value of time and money.

[mmm chocolate]

Anyone complaining about not having money need to find three others without money and do the criminal mastermind challenge. Its not that f*cking hard.

[Maibatsu545]

Someone on reddit summed it up perfectly:

 

http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/3cnt5f/someone_in_rgtav_said_to_post_this_here_rant_a

 

First off, I love the game. I love playing with my mates, I love f*cking around online with people, it's awesome. But there's so many issues that it gets frustrating sometimes.

Like half the time the freaking planets have to align for me and my 4 mates to get into the same lobby, and even then we all disconnect constantly.

There's hackers all over the place, to the point where I have trouble finding people to heist with because they're busy sucking some scriptkiddie's dick for cash, not only because the heists don't award enough money to buy anything much, but because the hackers have better customer service than you do.

Clothes irritate the sh*t out of me, I don't want 20 different necklaces that all look identical, I want to wear boots and jeans, or a scarf and a bikini, I don't care if they clip, just let me dress like my favourite characters without imposing arbitrary bullsh*t limits on things.

This is before we even get to the updates, I'm sorry Rockstar but 2.2mil for a car no better than a zentorno? Are you serious? For that price you should go all out, a Lamborghini Egoista, a Maserati Birdcage, go wild. Plus the fact that ever since this update came out I've dropped 30 frames like that. "uhh GTA could I have my steady 50 frames back please?" "Nahh you get a choppy 17 at the lowest settings, plus I'm taking your Vacca and Zentorno for no reason". That's fine I guess, I'm looking forward to the new superbike, the Vindicator; where "Luxury meets raw power" sick, can't wait. "what's this? It has a low top speed and handles like an aircraft carrier?" well what should I expect from a bike that costs $630,000 and takes design inspiration from one of the best bikes in pop culture history.

These are only naming the problems I'm having. One of my mates has had a van in his garage for months that he can't sell because it's ''duped''. Lemme tell you guys, no one ever intentionally duped a van.

You guys did so much good with this game. The city feels real, the game looks incredible, I freaking love self radio; blasting down the highway listening to my own tunes is the tits, the game's a f*cking achievement, but there are so many issues with it that keep reminding me to be annoyed. Why can't i manage my inventory at my apartment? I don't want 12 pistols, i only bought these to try them out, lemme dump them at my apartment so I don't default to the micro smg.

What you've given me is a huge cake, and it's one of the best cakes I've ever eaten, truly, but every 5th or so bite there's a fish bone, and I don't mind stopping to pick the fish bone out, the cake truly is worth it, but I kinda wish you'd just take the extra time to remove the fish bones before serving me more.

I really love you guys, I do from the bottom of my soul, but please, just take second, sit down, breathe deep and get things straight before continuing.

I promise, I'll be right here waiting with baited breath.

TL;DR: C'mon Rockstar, you guys are better than this.