Candy Crush Dev: Microtransactions Are The Future of Games

[Atmos Duality]

He believes. But a lot of what he has been saying is proving to be substantially difficult for companies. I can pick up a lot of examples of 'core' games that are free to play and are successful.

While there are successful "core F2P" games (I've even played a few), the F2P model is not going to work for every core game. Yet, Mr. Palm either thinks that they can work, or that "core" games should be changed to fit the F2P model just because "it's better".

In either case, he is making a grave error, since "standardization" by requires discouraging and eventually eliminating competing models. Standardization of something should only be done when commonality is absolutely practical for everyone involve, not just because you made a mint exploiting that something.

Games like Dark Souls, The Binding of Isaac, Risk of Rain...none of those would survive a transition to F2P without losing what gives them their appeal.

And to presume that hardcore gamers will "fall in line" suggests to me an attitude of complete arrogance, if not contempt.

Which is why I honestly cannot interpret his spiel in any nice way; either he thinks core gamers will give in because they will have no choice (oppressive approach), or that they will "see the light" as if they didn't know what they wanted, which is dismissive and insulting (pretentious approach; bonus points for the irony of flying in the face of "hardcore")

It's happening at a decent pace. But they're also not hitting 'revenue' the same way as boxed releases can. Their secret is longevity, which is about respecting and orienting to your player base.

I agree that is how F2P, or any "service-centric" kind of game should approach their customers.
If there's any sort of persistence past install or during play, they need to give it some value.

My original comment was surprise that THIS man gains the heat. I think it's just a triggered response to "Candy Crush" and selected title for the article.

I won't speak for anyone else, but I want to be clear that my opposition isn't based on some pre-conditioned response to Candy Crush; if you (or anyone) likes the game, whatever. I won't take that away from you (or them).

But I'm always wary anytime some industry bigwig comes out and starts trying to dictate how I will spend my money.

 

[loa]

Nice bubble you have there.
Would be a shame if it popped.

 

[RunicFox]

While there are successful "core F2P" games (I've even played a few), the F2P model is not going to work for every core game. Yet, Mr. Palm either thinks that they can work, or that "core" games should be changed to fit the F2P model just because "it's better".

In either case, he is making a grave error, since "standardization" by requires discouraging and eventually eliminating competing models. Standardization of something should only be done when commonality is absolutely practical for everyone involve, not just because you made a mint exploiting that something.

Games like Dark Souls, The Binding of Isaac, Risk of Rain...none of those would survive a transition to F2P without losing what gives them their appeal.

And to presume that hardcore gamers will "fall in line" suggests to me an attitude of complete arrogance, if not contempt.

Which is why I honestly cannot interpret his spiel in any nice way; either he thinks core gamers will give in because they will have no choice (oppressive approach), or that they will "see the light" as if they didn't know what they wanted, which is dismissive and insulting (pretentious approach; bonus points for the irony of flying in the face of "hardcore")

I agree that is how F2P, or any "service-centric" kind of game should approach their customers.
If there's any sort of persistence past install or during play, they need to give it some value.

Sounds like we pretty much agree.

I won't speak for anyone else, but I want to be clear that my opposition isn't based on some pre-conditioned response to Candy Crush; if you (or anyone) likes the game, whatever. I won't take that away from you (or them).

But I'm always wary anytime some industry bigwig comes out and starts trying to dictate how I will spend my money.

I apologize for the statement. It was broad. Most of my recent time on any community forum has been about candy crush or free to play lately, and a lot of people's initial reaction being knee-jerk.

I think these last few sentences of yours are your best. Always be wary, and try to understand why someone is enjoying something.

 

[bimon_1234567]

Maybe I should send out applications for the position of a 'game guru' at a big company. It seems you are qualified as long as you master the art of talking out of your posterior.

 

[MCerberus]

King: We need all the money and rip off people
Adult Swim Games: Yah, some of them are free. Some of them only work through a purchase. We'll put some of them on Steam if they feel like good PC games


One of these studios earn several million dollars a day...
...
!@#$ I hate mobile

 

[moggett88]

Well...I have been meaning to learn to play the piano. I guess the day I stop playing games cos they're all F2P is as good a time as any.

 

[nevarran]

Charging for the demo of your game, sounds good too!
Ah, the future is bright, suits!

 

[jklinders]

King as a company might be a pack of smashed assholes but really is this guy wrong? Microtransactions are creeping into AAA games. And before that there was the DLC. It's happening. Want to play multi on CoD with all of your friends? Better buy all of the map packs so you can be on the same games as them. Sure the multiplayer might be free but when you have to buy the right to use the various playgrounds, that is a form of microtransaction.

Dead Space 3 has the whole trade time for money mechanic. it's happening already. Gamers are in fact already falling in line. I don't have to like it, but when we get right down to it, whether we like what the guy has to say or not, it's happening. Almost everything ships these days with small little cosmetic bits you can pay real money for. no real gameplay added but you pay for it. Squadmate armor sets for Mass Effect 2? Horse armor for oblivion anyone? That was from some folk's beloved Bethsoft. Not even the evil EA or Activision.

SO it may be more true to say not only is it here, but it has been here for a good long time. It will continue to be here as long as people keep feeding quarters into the machine.

Odious? Sure, but don't disregard the truth of the message because you don't like it or it's messenger.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Sounds like we pretty much agree.

Aye.

I apologize for the statement. It was broad. Most of my recent time on any community forum has been about candy crush or free to play lately, and a lot of people's initial reaction being knee-jerk.

S'alright.
To be fair, with the growing sense of overt distrust between producers and consumers in the game market comes more polarized responses. The Internet is an easy place to say something absolutely terrible and stupid, which goes for producers just as much as the "vocal minority".

 

[Poetic Nova]

I don't know if I should laugh really loud or be really pissed off about this bullshit.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

What the fuck had this guy been snorting?

 

[Johnson McGee]

What was that? I can't hear over Zynga's continuing catastrophic implosion.

 

[JLF]

How much of a money grabber can one hope to be?! Everyone should start with micro-transactions so there would be no consumer friendly products anymore in the gaming industry??

The greatest threat for King is that people start to realize that a packaged deals are better deals than "free to play".

Free to play translates in my mind as "free to try" (also known as a demo) and if you happen to like the game you will have to keep paying for it. SERIOUSLY you pay more because you like the game.

Imagine Skyrim as free to play... I think I would be indebted for life.

I doubt Blizzard is doing a killing with Heartstone. They are likely more interested in keeping their level of service up to par, so people are comfortable buying their other products at full price (they have very seldom any sales).

I find it disgusting that they try to compare themselves with a big company that still tries to be consumer friendly.

Please God can nobody start an ad campaign to combat this crappy business practice. "You like candy crush why not try these games that only cost 5$ and you can try the demo for free. Why pay more when you can get better product for less?"

Micro-transactions, free to play... *shivering in disgust*

 

[DarkhoIlow]

There are Free to play games that support a decent microtransaction model, but they don't even compare on the scale to the ones that are just preying on the wallets of their customers.

I have been talking at my gym with someone who has been playing Silkroad for 10 years and doesn't want to play something else.

I've heard they charge for premium plus account to be able to "have a spot" in the server, buying "silk" currency to add insane stats to your character, lowering the XP gain to force people to buy XP boosts etc. It was disgusting to hear that some people actually are that gullible to buy into that.

 

[P912]

So this guy wants to force us to adopt to this system?
He's not even attempting to justify it?
Or pretend it has some benefit to us?
His entire attitude is "Yeah we know it's crap but it's what all the cool kids are doing these days so just get with the program"?

May his crops be riddled with disease and his spouse be unfaithful to him. That's all I got. Fuck everything about this statement and attitude, I cannot find any redeeming factors.

 

[DrOswald]

Free To Play works well for certain types of games. Hearthstone, for example, is a pretty good free to play game.

But the idea that Free to play can even apply to many genres is stupid. How could you possibly make a free to play Mario or Megaman game, for example? It would break the core of the game. And what about a Metroidvania? It just doesn't work. In fact, most core game genres don't really work as FTP games.

This guy might as well have said "I don't know anything about game design and I really, really want to be hated by gamers."

 

[RicoADF]

Yes massah I surely will fall in line. Egotistical prick. You know what? If it happens that this becomes the norm rather than the exception is the day i quit gaming it's not like i don't have a backlog to get by on.

Same here, I've got 500 games on steam I still need to play, plus my consoles, this idiot seems to think everyone is addicted to the newest shiniest games and can't/won't play anything less. While there are some shallow people like that I'd like to think most players wouldn't trade their dignity for slightly more particles esp now that graphics have practically hit the peak with nowhere for them to go.

 

[FalloutJack]

Are you guys really...really...that frigging stupid? Exactly...what KIND of candy do you have over there? Because I'm thinking meth. I made a comment at the R&P section here that my hatred of all the morons in the world is completely without favorites, that my judgement of fools is based upon merit and deed.

This is one such deed.

You, like everyone before you who keeps blurting out this crap, are out of your mind. Fall in line? Like hell! Go peddle your wares somewhere where they haven't heard of you, because this is it. You're done. It's over. You're labeled. You're shit. Nobody's going to want anything to do with you. You're telling the customer what to do...right smack dab in the middle of the time where people don't like that. Apathy is going away. People are getting pissed. You represent one of the many companies who will be frantically spinning their wheels with no headway until death.

 

[seditary]

Surely it can't be that long until some countries begin to put regulations on F2P games since they're becoming so similar in impact to the user as gambling.

 

[Adeptus Aspartem]

Not even gonna' waste more time than necessary with such statements. One good laugh and then i proceed onwards. With DkS 2 and BoI:Rebirth coming my next ~300-500 hours gameplay are set for this year anyway.

Push comes to shove my friends and i will stick to our steadily growing numbers of boardgames, P&P RPGs and MTG - and replaying old stuff which those greedy cunts can't take away from you.

100% F2P leads to badly designed games, because every game has to be built around the monetization. If i just slightly try to fathom what Dark Souls or Deus Ex would look like in such a world >.> *shiver*