Poll: Micro payments

[EchetusXe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7993186.stm

Small can mean big bucks in the world of gaming where micropayments are being seen as playing an increasingly important part in making money for the industry.

Basically, virtual goods in free-to-play games. It would seem "Mob Wars" makes $1 million (£667,000) a month this way.

One apparently knowledgeable bloke said: "micro-transactions will win over subscription fees because they are more flexible."

They say they are a roaring success in the Far East and now people are anxiously waiting to see how you Americanos will respond. So I made this poll so they can come to theescapist for the results first. Anyone can vote in the poll, most of you are USA/Euro/Aussie.

Is this the future?
Are subscription fees gonna be a thing of the past?

 

[RetiarySword]

I can't stand them. Mostly because I bought a micropack from EA for battlefield 2142 and I can't download it again because it has a 6 months expire or something. So gay.

 

[theklng]

i am principally against games that are free to play from the get go, because i go by the pretense that nothing is ever free. i wouldn't pay for micro transactions in a free game to "cheat" myself up the ladder, i'd rather pay a subscription where people are entitled to the same goods.

it's a question of all or nothing. theoretically some people may not be able to afford the micro transactions, in which case i would consider it cheating. i'm not playing games to establish a plutocracy, i'm playing them for fun.

 

[Frizzle]

See, the problem I have with micro transactions is that they don't really suit the gaming style of games that dominate in the west. EVE Online for example, or WoW. You can't do micro transactions with those games because then it becomes "I payed for more stuff, so I'm going to be better at the game".

I know there are some game models, like the mentioned "Mob Wars", where that may work. I don't think, however, that most of these games are going to be very mainstream. Yes, I know everyone and their grandma uses facebook, but they don't finish lunch, lean back and say "i'm going to play games on facebook now". In my experience, it's something people do at work, or in class, to waste time.

You could consider games with DLC on the micro transaction model, though. You want cool uniforms for your SFIV game? Pay up. We can see how that's been received so far, even if it's under the guise of a different name.

I'm not really against micro transactions, but I just don't think it works with a lot of the North American/European/Australian gaming society. We just don't play those kinds of games right now.

 

[megapenguinx]

I can't stand them. Mostly because I bought a micropack from EA for battlefield 2142 and I can't download it again because it has a 6 months expire or something. So gay.

That's EA for you.
I'm ok with it so long as I can still enjoy to actually play the game! Like if it's an alternate costume or something useless, then fine. But if it's something like say map packs (looking at you legendary and mythic) and you can't play like half the game modes because you are lacking them, then I have a problem with that.