Microtransactions Come to Call of Duty

[Baresark]

I had expected to come here and find a bunch of ridiculous comments hating on Activision because of this, and I wasn't disappointed. I hate Activision because they only pay for CoD clones and abandon any properties that are more interesting at the drop of a hat. This is by far the least scummy thing they can do. The only kind of Microtransactions that are OK are ones that do not change the gameplay for the people who payed and/or are entirely cosmetic. Buying extra slots for customization or hell, even new outfits should all be perfectly acceptable to gamers as a whole. They aren't cutting content from the game to do it and they aren't selling power. Holy shit people, user reason.

 

[Baresark]

Its possibly because they are advertised and sold out of game that they call them DLC. Most microtransaction items aren't advertised outside of the game itself.

In this case, Activision isn't releasing a "Gun camo pack" or "Flags pack". It's just something they shoe horn into the game. I'd doubt its something they want to blatantly advertise for. If they do, this would probably be called DLC. lol

Again its semantics.

Not, it is bollocks. For no reason, someone decided to give something that already existed a new name. And for some reason, I suspect in this case Escapist and other news pages because "CoD gets Microtansactions" will generate a ton of more clicks than "CoD gets small cometic DLCs" despite both things are the exact same in this case.

I'm inclined to agree that messing with the language is just stupid. What they are calling microtransactions are just small cosmetic DLC. Microtransaction, by their very nature, cannot be called that in a Pay to play game.

 

[Luminous_Umbra]

Considering that I play Team Fortress 2 and have bought from the Mann Co store, I can honestly say this a good step in the right direction. Cheap and cosmetic, well done Activision. (Never thought I would say that)

A lot of F2P-games are now currently knocking at your door and want to point out how they already sell gameplay-affecting content via micro-transactions. INCLUDING TF2 after it got F2P (and maybe even before)

For TF2, anything they sell in the store that directly impacts the game can be found through the drop system and most of the cosmetic stuff too. Additionally, they can be traded for. Plus, you don't need to get any other items to be good at the game, as plenty of the stock weapons are good as is. In my eyes, TF2 is one of the few examples of micro-transactions done right.

 

[Bindal]

I'm inclined to agree that messing with the language is just stupid. What they are calling microtransactions are just small cosmetic DLC. Microtransaction, by their very nature, cannot be called that in a Pay to play game.

Exactly. And not only that, they don't even make a mayority of the content. This is about what? 1% of the game? For Microtransaction, this would be A LOT more you can buy.

Seriously, this is not even CLOSE to "Microtransactions", stop calling it that, folks.

 

[luckshotpro]

Well, at least it's not blatant pay-to-win microtransaction bullshit like the weapon parts in Dead Space 3 or literally everything in The War Z.

 

[Saulkar]

I am not mad, I am not angry, I just do not care. Why?

I will let this video describe it for me.

 

[Giyguy]

not fine with it, but i don't buy Call of Duty anymore because IT'S ALL THE SAME THING.

captcha: free bag.

only if it's a bag of holding.

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

This is the way to do it. Implement something new, but in the least offensive way. Then, once the money comes in, can you make statements like people actually enjoying or "embracing" it. EA should take lessons, they're doing it wrong. Pretty soon, you'll have 'em eating out of your hand. Eventually, you can charge $60 for the mere PERMISSION to play the game, and then people will willingly RENT maps and guns, and pay for consumables and upgrades.

For people who enjoy particular games/franchises, the trend goes like this:
Good games > expansion packs > DLC > Online passes > Micro transactions

Each one starting out as innocent as can be, and developing into something a little more menacing every time. Leave it to your imagination as to what comes next.

 

[Goro]

I'm not fussed because its cosmetic and has no effect on the game. But why would I pay for new cams if I can't see them? Why pay for a new weapon skin that I can only see the charging handle of? Meh, it's all about monetization.

 

[Something Amyss]

I highly doubt there's a situation in CoD that you couldn't cover with the, what, 5-10 initial slots?

5, plus Prestige tokens, so potentially 10. Still, as a CoD newb, I can only speculate. I certainly can't cover all angles with the five base slots, but that doesn't mean it's impossible.

 

[Strazdas]

Ladies and gentleman.
It has begun.
HIde your wives, save your children, the apocalypse is here.

On the micro-menu are Personalization Packs, which will sell for 160 Microsoft points (that translates into $2 in real money), each with a unique weapon camo scheme, three targeting reticules and a custom Calling Card. For the same price, you can also score the Extra Slots Pack, which provides ten more custom classes, 20 emblem archive spaces, 32 more film slots and 40 extra slots for screenshots in Theater Mode.

targeting reticules? seriuosly? anyone remmeber the times games would let you design your own, for free? now we have to pay for that, my comment few lines up is starting to sound more and more like truth.
as if selling maps (you know, soemthing they have an obligation to privide in the first place and any half-decent games auto-downloads one form server if its lacking) isnt bad enough.

Cpacha: two cents worth.
well ok, i might pay 2 cents for COD.

 

[kburns10]

Assassin's Creed 4 is next. I'll be paying to sail across the ocean faster than the normal game time.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Well, unsurprising, but I'm honestly beginning to hate the common viewpoint that if the content is cosmetic, it's ok to be dicks about how you supply it. Previous Call of Duty games have had extra loadouts and emblem shapes unlocked through levelling up. If the microtransactions are just ways to get these earlier, I don't really have a problem with it. But what I'm predicting is that microtransactions will eventually replace levelling up as a way to access certain content. Levelling up would still have a purpose - guns and perks, perhaps, to avoid accusations of pay-to-win and as an excuse to keep levelling in the game at all - but custom loadouts, camos, and other things people are willing to say "don't affect the core game" will be paid for through the nose. My problem is this: Custom loadouts, different emblems, and other aesthetic elements are pretty important to people like me. I like to theme my classes, try out different setups, express myself basically. And while I wouldn't pay for it (and wouldn't buy the game on that basis), targeting players who want to enjoy the non-core elements of a game that have always been available and going uncriticised because "Well, you're still getting the same gameplay experience" is really unfortunate. You can be sure that in this new age of optional DLC, game publishers are looking to find what the most skeletal game model they can use is without arousing the ire of the playerbase so they can make more money by selling you the rest later. It's just sad to me that people are happy with skins, loadout slots, etc. becoming paid content where they used to be part of the vanilla game.

I suppose the decider for this line of argument will be whether there are less slots available than in the previous CoD game. But for me it doesn't matter. It's exploiting a section of players that the playerbase at large are content to ignore, as long as the part of the game they prefer is unaffected.

 

[Norix596]

Microtransactions for cosmetic or convenience products are fine but there will and should be an outcry the instant Activision makes a game balance altering product available.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

For those saying it's okay because it's cosmetic - here's a bit I stole from Destructoid's post on the matter:

"As our own Chris Carter pointed out, the extra loadout slots could have a minor effect on gameplay, since players would be able to tailor any number of characters for any given situation and switch them out on the fly, giving them a more nuanced advantage. A small point maybe, but one the hardest of the core may consider."

And thus, the downfall of Call of Duty continues.

Fixed it for you. No need to thank me.

 

[Zetatrain]

Well at least they aren't selling any weapons....yet.

 

[Bindal]

Well, unsurprising, but I'm honestly beginning to hate the common viewpoint that if the content is cosmetic, it's ok to be dicks about how you supply it. Previous Call of Duty games have had extra loadouts and emblem shapes unlocked through levelling up.

So does this. These DLCs are ADDIONAL stuff. You can still get your 10 classes (like previous games) and about 20 camos per gun (plus Collector if you use a special edition) and about 15 rectiles for free.
These packs are ADDIONAL content one of two of their graphicers did when he had a bit time spare.

And for the Personalsation-pack, there is quite a few content in it for 2 bucks
Nine camos (like Dollar-bills, Zombie-pictures and BACON! No, really, there is bacon-camo.) and about 12 addiona rectiles (most are unique for red dot, ACOQ and EOTech, but two or so are shared between them) plus the one callcard.
Honestly, as purely cosmetic 2$-pack, this is a lot.

For those saying it's okay because it's cosmetic - here's a bit I stole from Destructoid's post on the matter:

"As our own Chris Carter pointed out, the extra loadout slots could have a minor effect on gameplay, since players would be able to tailor any number of characters for any given situation and switch them out on the fly, giving them a more nuanced advantage. A small point maybe, but one the hardest of the core may consider."

I don't worry too much about it. Even with 10 classes, you can prepare pretty much for every situation already and then STILL might have a class or two spare. I know that I got 8 slots and basically got everything covered I need.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

Well, unsurprising, but I'm honestly beginning to hate the common viewpoint that if the content is cosmetic, it's ok to be dicks about how you supply it. Previous Call of Duty games have had extra loadouts and emblem shapes unlocked through levelling up.

So does this. These DLCs are ADDIONAL stuff. You can still get your 10 classes (like previous games) and about 20 camos per gun (plus Collector if you use a special edition) and about 15 rectiles for free.
These packs are ADDIONAL content one of two of their graphicers did when he had a bit time spare.

And for the Personalsation-pack, there is quite a few content in it for 2 bucks
Nine camos (like Dollar-bills, Zombie-pictures and BACON! No, really, there is bacon-camo.) and about 12 addiona rectiles (most are unique for red dot, ACOQ and EOTech, but two or so are shared between them) plus the one callcard.
Honestly, as purely cosmetic 2$-pack, this is a lot.

Exactly the attitude I'm talking about. I said in my post that my position becomes less rational and less defensible if games retain previous amounts of customisation outside of DLC, but it's still content that I would have to pay extra to access and that I know exists, and maybe to me the content that is outside of the core game is more important than some of the content that people would actually care about being DLC. Don't try to write it off as "One or two of the graphics guys just did this for fun so we might as well sell it", you don't know that's true. I think a fair few of their graphics team did it, deliberately to be sold as DLC. Yes, it doesn't impact development attention as much as other kinds of content does, but it's not like they're doing this out of the goodness of their hearts.

Look...basically my position is DLC at all is disingenuous because it makes people who already have the game feel like they're missing out, and all other valid concerns aside, this applies to cosmetic DLC as well - the difference being that less people care.

 

[kebab4you]

Yay now I get to pay money just to change my crosshair. Oh wait no I don't because only dickheads buy call of duty. You heard here first people.

True or not I'm claiming it.

Here, a set of crosshairs for free(paper you'll have to provide yourself):

Just print and stick it on your screen.