Take-Two plans to only release games with 'recurrent consumer spending' hooks

[DaveyGravy]

Met some awesome chaps on GTAO the other night which made a nice change. Got talking about this topic.

 

Even though I'm not against the shark cards at the moment, I do feel like they've sort of turned GTA into The Sims. Its no longer about the stealing of equipment/cars, its about plush apartments and buying vehicles. You can't even steal the standard release vehicles to this day, even though we have tracker removers in some garages and chop-shops. I suppose because online can't really have a story mode to it, that the money target is the only way to reach goals that you set for yourself, but I certainly think they held back on fun content simply because of the shark card plan.

 

As many have suggested there could have been casino's, lottery systems, better payouts on heist as I don't know of any armed robbers that would do such a job like the Pacific Standard for the minimum 15% 187k, not the host for 300k. As I said many times, not once have I been forced to buy a shark card, but its certainly led to a very limited experience to what they could have put in the game if not for fear of gamers making more money that they wouldn't feel the need ti buy a shark card.

 

PS: Why do forums and Facebook make you type so badly?

Edited November 12, 2017 by DaveyGravy

[Rabid Vulpix]

I agree with others that GTA 6 will likely have a story mode, HOWEVER it will have micro-transaction deals.

[ROCKSTAR MANIC]

I agree with others that GTA 6 will likely have a story mode, HOWEVER it will have micro-transaction deals.

 

"for the whopping 9.99 get yourself a 80s weapon & clothes pack" Ugh I can imagine, f*ck them.....

[Rabid Vulpix]

 

I agree with others that GTA 6 will likely have a story mode, HOWEVER it will have micro-transaction deals.

 

"for the whopping 9.99 get yourself a 80s weapon & clothes pack" Ugh I can imagine, f*ck them.....

 

 

Possibly as well for $20 getting early access to a helipad or all vehicle upgrades.

[Quinn_flower]

 

[Locce]

I am not sure if I should find it adorable that there are people who seem to think that microtransactions in GTA 6 Online might be as optional - if you are willing to grind past all of R*'s shenanigans - as in this GTA Online. If you speak corporate and followed even a fraction of Zelnick's statements on this topic you can have no doubt whatsoever that GTA Online - even the inflation-laden, public-session-warmongering, legit-money-stealing version that it has turned into over the years - is a financial cakewalk compared to anything that will come after this. According to his own words Zelnick thinks that you have not realised yet that there is a substantial power creep going on paired with an equally substantial price creep, you have not realised yet that the dripfeeding and the way earning methods are implemented are designed to make you or your less savvy peers waste money and drive you towards shark cards. He thinks he can squeeze a lot harder, and he will.

You can make him pay for being such a bag of wank. Make him pay by not paying him another cent of your money.

[Black Terminator]

Okay, I read the whole thing carefully and I will have to disagree with Take 2 Stand's on this big time cause not everyone has a lot of money to be buying shark cards and grind on stuff to make money. This method is not fun for any of the parties involved at all. It's been 4 years and a moon, you still have people hating the idea of micro transaction. It pains me to see what has become of Rockstar Games. It really is.

[DaveyGravy]

GTAVI is a long way off most likely, and whilst it will still be bought by the bucket load, I think it will be the first ever GTA release that will have customers cautious of buying before all the info is out. I hate being a downer on Rockstar Games, but GTAV/O has changed not just the series but the whole way every Rockstar Games will be developed from now on, simply because of Mts.

 

What really f**ks me off is that the majority of daft sods still blame devs on this, its not them its the suits. Game devs are like school teachers, cops, firemen etc, and they do the job because they love it even though they will probably struggle financially and take undeserved abuse. Its the f**king suits and the Hauser f**kers who probably never touched a joypad and therefore have no idea what it is that making gameplay fun and keeps the gamer hooked. Like most they were young at one point and had dreams, the Hausers did something about that which I will always praise them for, but at some point coin became more interesting to them than creativity and thats pretty f**king heartbreaking to see. The publishers however have always been this way. They probably don't even understand why GTA is so fun and popular, and instead smile, take the kudos and cash and then f**k the whole thing up.

 

And before GTAVI is released, we still have to ponder on what the hell they're going to do to the RDR2 game. In truth I don't think the devs of Rockstar Games have been allowed that creative touch since RDR, which was released around 2011 or something. Worrying times ahead indeed.

Edited November 13, 2017 by DaveyGravy

[Dondara]

Vote will you wallet. Plenty of games not trying to pull this bullsh*t. You are the consumer, you have the power.

[TheN7evn]

I was afraid of something like this happening. But as mentioned earlier we dont know for sure. Its speculation but judging by the current GTAO situation it will probably be the case where its all about the shark cards etc. I mean alot of other games do it, some badly (as in pay to win) and some in a good way (guess rainbow six siege 2 is my example- you dont need them extra operators to win). Im ok with the fact that shark cards are there and are like the one way to get more money to get more stuff. What I would be against is if I needed to pay to buy 10 more guns that are my only way to progress, that I need to pay for this so x unlocks for me to expand my experience on a regular basis.

 

If its DLC then I dont mind paying as long as its decent but with the current crap (pvp/adversary mode) I wouldnt even think about paying. Thinking of things like TBOGT etc. I think ever since the Benz left/was fired its slowly gone downhill and I guess I will have to wait for the reviews and videos of gameplay etc before picking up another GTA. Shame because its always been a straight away pre order game for me. They've never disappointed

[Dacelo]

Vote will you wallet. Plenty of games not trying to pull this bullsh*t. You are the consumer, you have the power.

Not really when the majority of microtransactions are being purchased by a minority of players.

[RyuNova]

Don't really care.

Never bought a Shark Card and never will. If it means we keep getting free Updates then let them do it.

[Nutduster]

 

Vote will you wallet. Plenty of games not trying to pull this bullsh*t. You are the consumer, you have the power.

Not really when the majority of microtransactions are being purchased by a minority of players.

What he's suggesting is to not buy the game in the first place. Publishers and developers of microtransaction-infested games will never change their ways until either it significantly hurts their bottom line, or an easier way to make that kind of money comes along. We only control the first option.

[Locce]

 

 

Vote will you wallet. Plenty of games not trying to pull this bullsh*t. You are the consumer, you have the power.

Not really when the majority of microtransactions are being purchased by a minority of players.

What he's suggesting is to not buy the game in the first place. Publishers and developers of microtransaction-infested games will never change their ways until either it significantly hurts their bottom line, or an easier way to make that kind of money comes along. We only control the first option.

 

That is correct. The best way to push microtransactions and even the pest that is loot boxes onto players is somewhat disguised pay-to-win or gamble-to-win in a highly competitive environment. And the only way to win in such a game is to either be ready to throw a lot of money at it or to not play at all.

Zelnick's best-case-scenario is something like the FIFA series where grinding for the best "loot" is a mere theory far beyond practical attainability and the most competitive players have reasons to spend several hundreds of dollars on the game - per month - just to keep up with others who do the same. These schemes work, and they work better the bigger the game's community is, counting also the "minnows" who serve either as motivational cannon fodder for the "dolphins" and "whales" or can be frustrated into becoming at least "dolphins" themselves.

If you see a publisher pushing these elements into a game, don't buy. You save yourself a lot of money and/or trouble.

[Shaundi.]

Regarding microtransactions, this happened on reddit today.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsBattlefront/comments/7cff0b/comment/dppum98

 

An EA owned reddit account defending its microtransactions in the Star Wars game gets nearly 380,000 downvotes because Darth Vader is locked.

 

Could you imagine if this was Take-Two or Strauss Zelnick himself or even Rockstar posting in r/gtaonline defending their microtransactions? They sure as hell WON'T be condemned for their practices, they'd be f*cking praised because, gta.

 

This reddit thread is solid proof that the gaming community are at breaking point on microtransactions. Several people in the gaming industry are in need of physical removal.

Edited November 13, 2017 by Shaundi.

[blk95ta]

ive never played an RdR game but im curious to see how microtransactions would be in that game

 

your horse is sick, please visit the vet and pay $$$$

your horse threw a shoe, please buy him new ones at the blacksmith shop

[ALifeOfMisery]

Regarding microtransactions, this happened on reddit today.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsBattlefront/comments/7cff0b/comment/dppum98

 

An EA owned reddit account defending its microtransactions in the Star Wars game gets nearly 380,000 downvotes because Darth Vader is locked.

 

Could you imagine if this was Take-Two or Strauss Zelnick himself or even Rockstar posting in r/gtaonline defending their microtransactions? They sure as hell WON'T be condemned for their practices, they'd be f*cking praised because, gta.

 

This reddit thread is solid proof that the gaming community are at breaking point on microtransactions. Several people in the gaming industry are in need of physical removal.

Thanks for the link, it actually restores some of my faith that gamers might not put up with this sh*t eventually.

 

The 410k+ downvotes, and counting, is hilarious.

 

Hopefully one day we will see this kind, and size, of reaction on r/gtaonline. Because this is the direction R* and T2 are heading.

[Commander S]

 

 

Vote will you wallet. Plenty of games not trying to pull this bullsh*t. You are the consumer, you have the power.

Not really when the majority of microtransactions are being purchased by a minority of players.

What he's suggesting is to not buy the game in the first place. Publishers and developers of microtransaction-infested games will never change their ways until either it significantly hurts their bottom line, or an easier way to make that kind of money comes along. We only control the first option.

 

That's the most productive option, yeah - because D.B.'s correct about that. Short of publishers going too far with microtransactions, to the point where the fraction of big spenders decide enough is enough and close their wallets, all that the regular customer can do is ...stop buying games with loot boxes, microtransactions, pay-to-avoid-playing schemes, etc.

 

That'll mean having to pass up on a bunch of otherwise-promising titles, and 'gamers' have a pretty poor history of sticking to their guns over that kind of thing. And with things like RDR2 and GTA VI, it's going to be a long stretch of doing without R* releases before the message sinks in. There's going to be a tipping point within the next ...decade, I guess - but if players want to see publishers move away from in-game spending and look for alternative ways to make money off their products (like separate cash stores for cosmetics, modular/episodic titles, or just flat-out being upfront about it, and selling big-budget AAA games for more than $60 as a complete experience), 'voting with your wallet' means dropping titles with 'recurrent consumer spending hooks' altogether.

[ViceBoy69]

If this is the case i just wont buy the next GTA, i just want to play a game not pay for a load of crap i dont want, why i dislike 5 so much, i dont play online so the game is lost to me.

[elfoam]

 

Regarding microtransactions, this happened on reddit today.

 

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarWarsBattlefront/comments/7cff0b/comment/dppum98

 

An EA owned reddit account defending its microtransactions in the Star Wars game gets nearly 380,000 downvotes because Darth Vader is locked.

 

Could you imagine if this was Take-Two or Strauss Zelnick himself or even Rockstar posting in r/gtaonline defending their microtransactions? They sure as hell WON'T be condemned for their practices, they'd be f*cking praised because, gta.

 

This reddit thread is solid proof that the gaming community are at breaking point on microtransactions. Several people in the gaming industry are in need of physical removal.

Thanks for the link, it actually restores some of my faith that gamers might not put up with this sh*t eventually.

 

The 410k+ downvotes, and counting, is hilarious.

 

Hopefully one day we will see this kind, and size, of reaction on r/gtaonline. Because this is the direction R* and T2 are heading.

 

That is fantastic, I went and downvoted

[delorianlazarus]

Does anyone give the smallest f*ck about downvotes ?

 

Post gets downvoted, while stocks go sky high.

Edited November 13, 2017 by delorianlazarus

[elfoam]

Does anyone give the slightest f*ck about downvotes ?

 

Post gets downvoted, while stocks go sky high.

It's early days man but the revolt against this sh*t is building.

[JuniorChubb]

Apparently EA have made a response based on the Downvotes...

[D9fred95]

Does anyone give the smallest f*ck about downvotes ?

 

Post gets downvoted, while stocks go sky high.

Well, EA reduced the price of the heroes to 75% of what they were so clearly the downvotes did something.

[delorianlazarus]

^

I really hope so, I really do.

 

But I wouldn't bet that anyone who put a downvote will now keep from buying additional stuff, or even spend any other dime towards that greedy editor

 

 

 

Don't vote on Reddit

Vote with your wallet

 

D9fred: they did? Wo

 

 

EDIT: grammaaar and vocabularyyy

Edited November 13, 2017 by delorianlazarus

[JuniorChubb]

You guys think this is bad, wait until GTA becomes a subscription service...

[Alvarez]

You guys think this is bad, wait until GTA becomes a subscription service...

It is on consoles.

[elfoam]

^

I really hope so, I really do.

 

But I wouldn't bet that anyone who put a downvote will now keep from buying additional stuff, or even spend any other dime towards that greedy editor

 

 

 

Don't vote on Reddit

Vote with your wallet

 

D9fred: they did? Wo

 

 

EDIT: grammaaar and vocabularyyy

 

I don't buy stuff in games.. If a game requires extra spending after launch then I'm not going to buy it. GTAO was fine in the beginning and once it wasn't fine.. I glitched whenever the chance was there. I have zero intention of buying or playing Red Dead. I'll be playing Elite as my next long term game.

 

You guys think this is bad, wait until GTA becomes a subscription service...

It is on consoles.

 

It kinda is.. But sony give you *just* enough decent games in 12 months to make it worth it.

[Quinn_flower]

ooooooooooo i want a r* dev to come on here. the things i have to say......but i want a lead dev like the ones on top not a 8 to 5 dev who has to work their butt off. i want the big wigs. my fire is aimed to them

 

^
I really hope so, I really do.

But I wouldn't bet that anyone who put a downvote will now keep from buying additional stuff, or even spend any other dime towards that greedy editor



Don't vote on Reddit
Vote with your wallet

D9fred: they did? Wo


EDIT: grammaaar and vocabularyyy

 

I don't buy stuff in games.. If a game requires extra spending after launch then I'm not going to buy it. GTAO was fine in the beginning and once it wasn't fine.. I glitched whenever the chance was there. I have zero intention of buying or playing Red Dead. I'll be playing Elite as my next long term game.

 

You guys think this is bad, wait until GTA becomes a subscription service...

It is on consoles.

 

It kinda is.. But sony give you *just* enough decent games in 12 months to make it worth it.

 

pc where you dont have to pay a dime.......lol i like to see if they try to pull that on here.

[Cudwieser]

Just throwing 2 cents here. Microtransactions as a garnish is no big deal. If the game itself is complete with NO BIAS toward micro transactions then I'm game. Pissing about by making the content included hideously expensive with little means of quickly earning it and ultimately taking from why players are actually playing the game (trolling, griefing and generally showing off and playing missions, et al). Force a grind and players get bored, make the common expenditure irrelevant and they come back to see what else is on offer.