[GTAO] Cashcards or Paid Cosmetics?

[Guest]

 

1.

Still feeling unsure if I won't prefer a subscription scheme (free/standard/deluxe whatever) over (voluntary) cash cards, tbh, but I'm coming around towards the latter. The cash card system for sure has more people being able to join for free without feeling left out, for either by grind or real cash investment, everybody can have the same stuff in the end. Meanwhile, subscription models too often end up either locking people out entirely or in case of limited-access-for-free-and-goodies-for-paying-folks arrangements divide the community into "rich" and "have-nots" from the beginning, in a for me unsatisfying manner.

In this respect, I do prefer cash cards over subscription (and by far over paid cosmetics), and I genuinely don't mind being myself on the paying side occasionally. On the other hand, if OP's alternative proposal would have been, say, "paid-for exclusive gameplay options" (fully-functional, full-graphic solo-lobby for easier and more pleasant business, anyone?) for a monthly sum, I would be tempted, i admit.

 

2.

Either way, no paid cosmetics, please. They can hide a new set of ultra-hot cosmetic customization options behind another paywall if they think they must (Nightclub?), but I find it important that people theoretically can play everything in this game for free, even if it takes a lot of grinding.

 

3.

An occasional Coke (the beverage, mind!) when going out surely doesn't hurt, but overall: Neither, I'm a tap water or tea person.

 

Edited June 24, 2018 by Guest

[Yellow Dog with Cone]

49 minutes ago, Spider-Vice said:

1. They would be fine if the game's economy wasn't designed after them.

Sadly, for microtransactions to work as intended, it's a necessary evil to not only design the game's economy after them, also the overall design of the game itself.

 

After all, who would buy Shark Cards/Extra Lives/Gold Currency/whatever if you can obtain said items easily just by playing the game?

 

Microtransactions need to be enticing for the players and most developers take the Gameloft mobile game approach of turning the game into a grinding mess.

 

As I said some time ago, microtransactions aren't truly optional because while you can choose to not buy them, you can't choose not to be under their effects in the game: the grind, the power creep, the Pay-to-Win... Unless you choose not to play, which defeats the purpose of a game which is to be played.

 

Ain't fun if the shareholders can't have none.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Voodoo-Hendrix
haha yes

[kcole4001]

The grind is really only boring if you let it be.

Mix it up, and when you get bored, play just for fun.

As long as you cover your daily expenses, you're not losing.

Mod a car/plane/boat, take it to a race, push it's envelope so you know what it can and can't do.

Then go back and grind some money tomorrow.

 

The feeling that you have to be making money every second in the game is just obsessing, ya gotta know when to let go and goof around.

Edited June 24, 2018 by kcole4001

[Lonely-Martin]

No/No/Coke.

 

Don't really drink Coke/Pepsi at all though, I'm one for a lovely cup of tea, milkshakes and fruit juices lol. But hand me a Jack Daniels/Captain Morgan's and Pepsi, You're getting the diva treatment, lol. Splashface!

 

I prefer to play, not pay. But of the 2 options, cards are better for me here atm. But I've grown to resent most, if not all forms of microtransactions really. They compromise too much I enjoy. I just was lucky to have good friends to help hit challenges and here to add even more to my game with players or picking up the odd time saving tip to ease the boring parts. Plus the inspiration to do things in different ways I see others do things is always great to read about. Certainly helped show me I'm not mad in some of my GTA habits, lol.

 

I like that they allow really casual players a way to embrace GTA/games at any stage of their lifespan and enjoy the game no less than anyone else, but for me here in GTA (Know little of other games/examples - Though, that Battlefront noise was loud, lol), it came at a price. Too much of a grind to play it out instead, especially shocking additions like research. Too much emphasis and encouragement of bad gamesmanship, far further than 'GTA' would suggest really too. (Destroy, not steal).

 

So much potential though, good and bad. RDR2 is where I learn more. I enjoy GTA:O but I'm ready to walk. I would certainly rather not, lol. I won't support/enable all this crap again.

 

[secrecy274]

Paid Cosmetics is better than most forms of micro-transactions, however they're still a form of micro-transaction aka sh*t.

[Lonely-Martin]

1 hour ago, Lucy_Woooolfe said:

 

if OP's alternative proposal would have been, say, "paid-for exclusive gameplay options" (fully-functional, full-graphic solo-lobby for easier and more pleasant business, anyone?) for a monthly sum, I would be tempted, i admit.

 

I would be so very tempted, and saddened all at the same time if this came.

 

I'd relish the gameplay as I choose it, no doubting that. And also, I would embrace paying for this in hope that my money does the talking, and with hope others did too. As this could also show R* that there really is a huge amount of players that enjoy GTA in so many different ways and that by allowing us to choose to split off and play in peace, alone or with like-minded folk, it could be awesome.

 

That said. I'd also see it as a backwards step in GTA's nature too. The game is known and celebrated for us choosing our game of it. To suddenly see certain choices then chargeable would definitely feel weird to me. I enjoy that the game offers so much, and believe strongly that there is room out there for much more choice without them looking to cash in on that.

 

Mixed feelings completely with this entire topic really. Again, there's just so much potential in any direction I look to get far too costly for me, but also just so much better too.

[Nutduster]

18 hours ago, kenmy13999 said:

I think the microtransaction system  that Gtao has is the best out of payed dlc, lootboxes, season pass etc, etc 

 

 

It is decidedly not. Paid DLC and season passes are honest; if you want more content for the game, you pay for it. Simple and transactional. Cash cards incentivize the developer to make the game slower, more boring and less fun, in order to coerce people into buying the cards. Therefore whether you buy them or not, your experience has been affected substantially. The true cost is hidden - and the fact that it's hidden lets them get away with pushing the envelope as far as possible in order to make more money. 

[Arrows to Athens]

18 hours ago, Voodoo-Hendrix said:

1. No

2. No

3. Pepsi

SAME!

[Quinn_flower]

bad hanky. i swear if r* starts putting the good clothing behind a paywall.................................................................................................. the community will be pissed, Dear r* part 2 why do i have to pay irl money for clothing in game? i will be loudest on this if they do that and i will bitch and bitch even more than what i do now. 

Edited June 24, 2018 by Quinn_flower

[APB]

NONE.

[Bloodytears1666]

Don't use both, doubt that will ever be interested in cosmetics. Tried to find attractive combination of given tints and liveries and all my guns are still black. If talk about car's cosmetics, even if it sounds very interesting - not worth it. Especially when games like Gran Turismo having editor with huge database of users made decals.

 

Coke.

Edited June 24, 2018 by Bloodytears1666

[MaddenedGhost]

Sharkcards, why? because if it's the sharkcard model, I know that if I put some time into the game I'll get that item, it's bad either way yes, but I would rather pay for it with my time and not my wallet.

 

I stopped drinking those things about 2 years ago.

[CarimboHanky]

im liking a lot of the responses...

 

i hate cashcards but i have only spend $5 on them and i just realized that with this paid cosmetics things me as a complationist would end up paying a lot of money in order to get everything.

 

guess cashcards are still the least evil of the bunch 

Edited June 24, 2018 by CarimboHanky

[kenmy13999]

4 hours ago, Nutduster said:

 

It is decidedly not. Paid DLC and season passes are honest; if you want more content for the game, you pay for it. Simple and transactional. Cash cards incentivize the developer to make the game slower, more boring and less fun, in order to coerce people into buying the cards. Therefore whether you buy them or not, your experience has been affected substantially. The true cost is hidden - and the fact that it's hidden lets them get away with pushing the envelope as far as possible in order to make more money. 

Paid dlc and season pass is honest?  look at dlc's for both Battlefield 1 and Bf4, both have paid dlc/premium pass and after a while they started giving away several of the dlc's to everyone.. Is that honest when other people paid for it?

No one knows how the updates for gtao would've been if they were paid/season pass, if you bought the season pass back in December 2013 they would already have gotten your money and you wouldn't have any more impact on the updates are than you have now. 

You've probably read my other response in the thread where I say I think gtao are a little to much geared towards selling fish cards?  

My opinion is still the same that I like better how they've done with gtao compared to paid dlc /season pass for this game. My opinion is still just as correct as yours tho, because opinion..  

 

[Mach1bud]

I often wonder what the community's reaction would be if they cancelled Shark Cards all together, no microtransaction model at all....

 

....but doubled the price of all in game items.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Mach1bud

[CarimboHanky]

8 minutes ago, Mach1bud said:

but doubled the price of all in game items.

current prices are "ok" in that scenario you propose.

[TheRipperOfLagoZancudo]

I don't do drugs so Pepsi. 

[xwinkx_girlYakuza]

1. Yes. It is a necessary evil. And there are people who really love this game but do not have time to grind.

 

2. Hell no! If i have to pay real money to buy clothes in gta i'd quit gta period!

 

3. Coke please!

Edited June 25, 2018 by xwinkx_girlYakuza

[fw3]

Cashcards are an unfriendly necessity over the pay-for alternative(s).

And not for nothing, but nobody in the history of anything ever asked for a rum & Pepsi.

Ever.

[Shadowfennekin]

I'd take cash cards over paid cosmetics any day.

Least I can earn everything I want without wasting REAL money. I only buy DLC and that's it. Paying $20 for ONE car or a hoodie would be f*cking stupid!

Also.... Pepsi. Mountain DEW ftw though.....

Edited June 25, 2018 by Shadowfennekin

[Pocket Fox]

The shark cards need to be better value, but they aren't inherently bad. A mega should be worth 15-20 mil not 8.

 

But some people expect others to work for FREE. You can either have shark cards as optional or EVERY DLC cost 25-50 dollars.

Contrary to some peoples misguided beliefs, the staff working on GTAO isn't like 3 guys who'll work for peanuts and a pat on the back.

[Nutduster]

2 hours ago, kenmy13999 said:

Paid dlc and season pass is honest?  look at dlc's for both Battlefield 1 and Bf4, both have paid dlc/premium pass and after a while they started giving away several of the dlc's to everyone.. Is that honest when other people paid for it?

 

Sales happen, occasionally (not often) giveaways happen.  At least you knew what you were paying for when you paid for it, and you got to play with it for probably months before the people who got it for free later.  It's a much more honest model than shark cards, where the entire game is designed to tell you that updates are "free" while secretly pushing you in every possible way to give in and just take a shortcut.

 

2 hours ago, kenmy13999 said:

No one knows how the updates for gtao would've been if they were paid/season pass, if you bought the season pass back in December 2013 they would already have gotten your money and you wouldn't have any more impact on the updates are than you have now.

 

Service-style games would probably be better suited to either a subscription model or something like a quarterly update where access to all of the content costs a flat fee (i.e. paid DLC).  Season pass doesn't really make sense for a game like GTA Online.  It makes more sense for single player games.  Unless of course they treat the season just like a subscription, basically, where you literally renew with a new season pass once a year. 

 

2 hours ago, kenmy13999 said:

My opinion is still just as correct as yours tho, because opinion.

 

Let's try to avoid pointless detours about opinions and subjectivity, please.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Nutduster

[Guest]

Sharkcards work and work well. They suit my play style (of being tight and "grinding" for what I want), they suit other people's play style of pay to win. I honestly can't say I'm at any disadvantage by having never bought a shark card.

 

Cosmetic whatever it is, how would that work in GTA when there is so much that's cosmetic. A new hair style, zebra print pants, beer hat, neon glasses, whatever it is wont give you any advantage and there's a sh*t ton of this content. However, if Loot boxes are brought in to the picture, the content should only be cosmetic.

 

More regulation on these in app purchases needs to be in place though. Currently it's perfectly possible (and it happens) for a child to use a credit card without permission and spend hundreds, if not thousands, on in game purchases with no security and there's nothing that can be done by the owner of the credit card other than reporting it as fraud - what kind of monster would report their child for fraud when it's pushed so damn much in the game? I know someone who's son took their credit card and spent hundreds on Fortnight and the Microsoft store, no security checks, nothing could be done. Only out of good will in the end did the companies involved refund some of the money. The kid didn't know better, he was about 10 or something, had no idea about money or how it works and when there's nothing there to stop it happening, a couple of hundred quid wasn't too bad, it could have easily been thousands.

Regulate microtransactions, improve (include!) security for all payments on anything and stop advertising the sh*t.

 

Coke - pepsi makes my nose wet.

[Guest]

14 hours ago, kenmy13999 said:

Paid dlc and season pass is honest?  look at dlc's for both Battlefield 1 and Bf4, both have paid dlc/premium pass and after a while they started giving away several of the dlc's to everyone.. Is that honest when other people paid for it?

No one knows how the updates for gtao would've been if they were paid/season pass, if you bought the season pass back in December 2013 they would already have gotten your money and you wouldn't have any more impact on the updates are than you have now. 

You've probably read my other response in the thread where I say I think gtao are a little to much geared towards selling fish cards?  

My opinion is still the same that I like better how they've done with gtao compared to paid dlc /season pass for this game. My opinion is still just as correct as yours tho, because opinion..  

 

Look at about 40% of the games with gold games and my games library. I paid for a lot of games that have since become free. Is Games for Gold honest when other people paid for the full versions of those games?

 

Fact is very few DLCs become free. Many are sale items but not many become free. Is it wrong that I paid for the season pass for Fallout 4 only to find it was half price a few weeks ago?

 

If GTA updates were DLC they wouldn't be free. If you paid for a season pass in December, Rockstar would not have made the updates to GTA free, they would have used the business model they used for previous titles and released DLC (i.e. TBOGT, TLAD in GTA4 and that sh*tty undead crap DLC for RDR) [Fixed for NutDuster]

 

Other than BF are you able to name any other DLC which has been given away for free following people buying it?

Edited June 25, 2018 by Guest
Fixed RDR DLC reference - my opinion on it is irrelevant...

[Nutduster]

26 minutes ago, DemonicSpaceman said:

Look at about 40% of the games with gold games and my games library. I paid for a lot of games that have since become free. Is Games for Gold honest when other people paid for the full versions of those games?

 

Fact is very few DLCs become free. Many are sale items but not many become free. Is it wrong that I paid for the season pass for Fallout 4 only to find it was half price a few weeks ago?

 

If GTA updates were DLC they wouldn't be free. If you paid for a season pass in December, Rockstar would not have made the updates to GTA free, they would have used the business model they used for previous titles and released DLC (i.e. TBOGT, TLAD in GTA4 and that sh*tty undead crap for RDR)

 

Other than BF are you able to name any other DLC which has been given away for free following people buying it?

 

Off the top of my head, they did this for at least one of the old Halo games - maybe it was Halo 3, hard to remember now.  Map packs were released for a fee at first, and months later they gave them away.  Other than that, I agree with everything you're saying here - except that needless diss of Undead Nightmare!  That DLC ruled.

[Coleco]

On 6/24/2018 at 12:44 PM, Laker23 said:

3. Cherry Coke.

Damn straight.

 

Edited June 25, 2018 by Coleco

[Mrnrfan182]

GTA’s current model makes for a terrible in game economy with a focus on grinding, not fun.  Too many cool down timers and purposely neutered elements put in place to babysit my money making potential. 

 

Id rather see paid DLC every quarter for $10.  So long as when you pay for that content you get everything.  Every new car / home / article of clothing released with the DLC.  I’m not even opposed to the new content being “game breaking” if it includes a new fastest car or weapon.  If it means I can play the game and have fun rather than grind, sit through cool down timers, pay insurance, have to run from computer to computer, or drive slow ass vehicles across the map, I’m all in.

 

Cash cards are a plague.  It puts a real value on fake currency and highly influences in game mechanics.  Give me paid DLC all day and let me have fun.

Edited June 25, 2018 by Mrnrfan182

[Guest]

The in game economy is only partly due to Shark Cards though. The main reason for it, in my opinion, is due to glitched money and the huge amounts of it from the start. Look at the prices of early DLC compared with later prices. There are obvious items which are priced to attempt to clear illegitimate money but at a cost to those of us who do not gain money illegitimately.

 

Not saying shark cards aren't a reason for it but they aren't the only reason and I don't believe they are even the biggest reason.

[Commander S]

13 hours ago, Mach1bud said:

I often wonder what the community's reaction would be if they cancelled Shark Cards all together, no microtransaction model at all....

 

....but doubled the price of all in game items.

See, I don't have to wonder - because while Elite Dangerous has a pretty good example of a perfectly reasonable cosmetics store, that doesn't mean the game doesn't suffer from a really heavy grind... 

 

For instance, imagine making something like $105k for a 20-minute mission - but the vehicle you want costs $160 million. No, really - that's one of the cheaper top-tier spaceships, and you have to do the same kinds of repetitive missions (complete with even more repetitive 'take off, jump system, fly to location, do mission, jump back, fly to base, clear for landing, land' sequence every single time...).

 

And there are more fun things to do in the game than that - but like with GTAO, it's often a choice between grinding some dull activity that pays well to get the thing you want, and doing stuff with said thing you want that won't earn you any money. But at least with GTAO, it won't take you the best part of half a year of grinding to get it...

 

32 minutes ago, Coleco said:

Damn straight.

Can definitely recommend Cherry Coke Zero Sugar - used to love the regular version, but never quite got over the sickly aftertaste. As if they read my mind, the Zero Sugar version is basically the same flavour (so dang refreshing!), but sans aftertaste - I can now drink Cherry Coke again, without wincing for ages afterwards (or having to count calories! ).

[kenmy13999]

53 minutes ago, DemonicSpaceman said:

 

 

If GTA updates were DLC they wouldn't be free

If GTA updates were "free" there wouldn't be any shark cards either

 

No I don't think it happens often that paid dlc's become free but I still don't think they're any more honest than SC in GTAO.

I think how R* does it with SC is the best way to do it for Gtao