Blizzard Addresses Overwatch Summer Games Controversy

[Metalrocks]

I'm one of those idiotic sub-humans who wasn't offended by the loot boxes in the first place, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I have no problem with the way this event is going. I like the rare, hard to get items.

same here. i see no harm in that. its not forced on to us and entirely our decision if we want to purchase them. i have purchased some of them and it was useful to some degree. still think that they should give you options for characters you play more than just some random ones you hardly or not play at all.

this new mode was actually pretty fun. played 2 games and won each of them by scoring a goal and even ending up getting POTG. was certainly a nice switch i welcome.

 

[SirSullymore]

this new mode was actually pretty fun. played 2 games and won each of them by scoring a goal and even ending up getting POTG. was certainly a nice switch i welcome.

Yeah, Lucio Ball is good fun and a great way to rack up loot boxes. haha

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I'm just going to assumed everything involving Overwatch is going to be a controversy from here on out.
New character? Controversy.
No new character? Controversy.
New map? Controversy.
New game mode? Controversy.

Its like the generic niche appeal of all the characters has formed a fanbase that can't even stand itself, much less fans of other aspects of the game.

 

[RJ 17]

Erm... I've got nothing. Nope nothing. So I am going to pass it over to Tom with the weather. Tom?

OT: I can understand both sides of the argument. On the one hand: legendary skins aren't quite that "legendary" if you see 11 of'em during every game. So having some that are particularly rare would help to make those skins more special.

On the other hand - as Jim Sterling has pointed out in episodes regarding things like this - it helps to foster a "haves vs have nots" mentality. Yes, they're all cosmetics. No, you don't have to buy loot boxes. But suppose you really, REALLY want that track'n'field Tracer skin. You see other people with it and that just rubs it in your face all the more that you don't have it. Despite the fact that you've lvled up 10 times since the start of the event, your loot boxes are giving you the finger. You can't just up and buy the skin with the credits you've earned, so that leaves you with one option: pay the ridiculous price(s) for the loot box slot machine and roll the dice...praying that the RNG gods smile upon you and bless you with the skin you want. Again, you don't have to buy the boxes...but this situation makes it all the more "tempting" (for lack of a better word) to do so.

 

[hermes]

...this was a "controversy?"

I know... For a moment I thought the controversy would be that the mode looks like a mod to Rocket League; but no, it turns out it was about people wanting free things... Shocker.

 

[Spider RedNight]

Ehhh... I can kiiinda see why people are annoyed.

On the other hand, all the Olympics themed stuff is either filler garbage or just plain ugly. I don't want any and I would actually like a way to get earn regular old loot boxes instead of the Olympic ones so I didn't waste chances on any of the Olympic items.

I am also reminded why I often wish such games included an option not to see other people's terrible taste in ugly skins.

The skins might be ugly but some of the victory poses and highlight intros are pretty great. ..... I lied the only one I like is Junkrat's because it appeals to people like me who think sports are over-rated anyway.

OT: ... I ALSO wasn't aware that this was a "controversy" - yeah, I can see how it's frustrating to try to play the system (because SOME of us aren't addicted to spending lots of money for the prospect of getting nothing you want) but on the other hand... it's not that big a deal. I mean, they don't affect gameplay, though yeah, I get just a little completely green with venomous jealousy when I see someone with, like, the ONE thing I want from this Event.

 

[RedDeadFred]

I've opened 4 boxes and already have gotten two duplicates... I wish they'd remove that possibility since getting the currency from the duplicates is kind of like a middle finger. Also, the fact that he has the audacity to act like them giving us new heroes and modes for free is super generous is kind of despicable. They weren't free, they cost 40 dollars. Many people like myself bought the game in its state of limited content because Blizzard said they'd be supporting it with content updates over time.

 

[RaikuFA]

Also, can we keep lucioball? It's more fun than it should legally be.

 

[sketchesofpayne]

Hey folks, all those credits you EARNED or PURCHASED previously are no good. If you want new cool stuff give us more money! We've decided artificial scarcity is the way we're going to harpoon all those big juicy "whales."

 

[The Enquirer]

Erm... I've got nothing. Nope nothing. So I am going to pass it over to Tom with the weather. Tom?

Well Jeff sodium appears to be raining down from the sky at an incredible rate. Now over to Scott with the latest in sports.

 

[Rituro]

Erm... I've got nothing. Nope nothing. So I am going to pass it over to Tom with the weather. Tom?

Well Jeff sodium appears to be raining down from the sky at an incredible rate. Now over to Scott with the latest in sports.

Thanks, Tom. It was a banner day at the Saltlympics, as Saltmerica pulled off a trifecta of medals in the 100m, 200m, and 500m umadbro dash. Not to be outdone, Saltaly surprised more than a few onlookers with a podium finish in the pole salt. And now, here's Debbie with your weekly health news.

 

[2HF]

Erm... I've got nothing. Nope nothing. So I am going to pass it over to Tom with the weather. Tom?

Well Jeff sodium appears to be raining down from the sky at an incredible rate. Now over to Scott with the latest in sports.

Thanks, Tom. It was a banner day at the Saltlympics, as Saltmerica pulled off a trifecta of medals in the 100m, 200m, and 500m umadbro dash. Not to be outdone, Saltaly surprised more than a few onlookers with a podium finish in the pole salt. And now, here's Debbie with your weekly health news.

Salt is bad for your health.

Am I doing it right?

 

[hermes]

I wish the flag based player icons were available for free, since people would only like to use their country's icon. Having the game randomly give you some flag from the other side of the world seems like overkill of the luck drawing system... but then I remember almost no has my country's flag, Overwatch included, so I don't really care.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

...this was a "controversy?"

Shh. You're distracting me. I'm trying to figure out which word I can stick onto "-gate" for this.

 

[Nurb]

It's an underhanded system.

The more items you unlock the more dupes you get, reducing your chances of getting something new the longer you play, so it reduces the value of the lootboxes if you pay for them.

Add to this that paying money for 10-100 boxes doesn't mean you get what you want and those credits you've been saving are meaningless for special items is enough to piss off anyone.

I'll be really annoyed if these are the skins they said are meant to be released during the summer.

 

[MHR]

There are two basic models for obtaining something rare in a game. The "perseverance" route where you pay a big price or grind for something, or the "wowee lucky!" way of getting it at random.

I think the problem comes from this system being neither. It doesn't matter how hard you "work" at getting some skins, you may never get them. You could pay tons of money and never get them. Neither can it be called luck because not everybody has the same chance of getting it. You can pay money to get more chances than everyone else, yet that still doesn't guarantee it. I don't play Overwatch, but I see where the outrage is.

I play TF2. At least in TF2 if you desire something to an unreasonable extent you can just pay someone to get it. Unusuals are rare and special, but you can get them in a guaranteed manner, even if it means paying an amount of money to some trade shark for it.

 

[Hawki]

...this was a "controversy?"

Shh. You're distracting me. I'm trying to figure out which word I can stick onto "-gate" for this.

"Blizzardgate?
"Olympicgate?"
"Riogate?"

...wait a minute.

Blizzard is promoting the 2016 Olympics! Clearly there's some shady dealings going on! The zeka virus is a bio-weapon! Rio is a death trap! Blizzard wants to fool us all! Nintendo and Sega are no better with their Mario & Sonic games! The gate is down! I repeat, the gamte is DOOOOWN!

 

[Metalrocks]

this new mode was actually pretty fun. played 2 games and won each of them by scoring a goal and even ending up getting POTG. was certainly a nice switch i welcome.

Yeah, Lucio Ball is good fun and a great way to rack up loot boxes. haha

well, it still took me a bit to reach the next level to get a box. i dont know if its for everyone but once the game ends, it kicks me back in to the menu and i have to select it again.
kind of weird why it does that.