I don't know how many of you have encountered the phrase "pay to win". I used to read this phrase a lot on Steam when users reviewed MMORPG games. They said the game would usually be fine until, say, level 50 when it got too hard and the only way to progress is by forking out actual cash to get some items/resources that make it easier to keep playing.
These took place in many "free to play" games and I suppose it was a way for the developers to actually make some cash for their efforts. Fair enough, but I have seen many reviewers explaining how the "pay to win" philosophy has killed games for people. For example, new users can pay for all the cool stuff while someone who doesn't have cash, grinds their way to a high level and is subsequently destroyed in a duel. That's a game representing the real world where those with power and money survive, whereas it used to be about skill, they say.
I pretty much managed to dodge "pay to win" gaming until I hit Plants vs Zombies 2 on my Android phone. Sure, it isn't PC/console gaming, but I can actually understand the anger of those reviewers. In this instance, someone didn't beat me after paying for all the good plants - the game isn't PvP - it became just too difficult to play without using power ups, which cost in game coins. You can earn coins by playing just about any level and survival levels gave you a chance to test your skill and earn coins as long as you kept going. I loved the first game and paid cash money for it. I was happy to and even bought a copy for my girlfriend who enjoyed the game as well.
I noticed the second was available and downloaded it months ago. The game went through different stages of updates. It was definitely tougher than the first one, but you could get through the first few levels, like Ancient Egypt and Pirate Seas, with decent strategy. Your power ups, which cost in game coins, could be used when you were in a pinch. I pretty much went through the survival modes of the different times in the game and saved up about 50 000 coins over the months. I initially planned to spend those coins on defeating Dr Zomboss by using the power ups to whittle his healthy down a little faster.
I ended up defeating him with little help from the coins, but between the garden and the survival levels, I always had some coins to spare. Then came the Dark Ages update, and more recently, the Dark Ages part 2.
Suddenly it felt like my pea shooters were actual, you know, pea shooters. The zombies rushed through and destroyed my plants way too quickly and I ended up using 30 000 coins in power ups just to get through 10 levels of the game. I relied less and less on my plants and more and more on the power ups. It stopped becoming Plants vs Zombies and became Power ups vs Zombies.
The reason I was annoyed is because, well, I enjoyed using my plants to stop the zombies. Now there's a wizard SOB who turns your plants into sheep, a king who knights zombies and gives them metal helmets and a jester who throws your projectiles back, which damages your plants and practically makes half of them redundant.
I am all up for a challenge but this was ridiculous. What's the point of playing the game if your plants aren't the ones slaying the undead? I understand they maybe wanted you to use your coins, but I completed a level with very few actual plants. The game also has in app purchases for other plants - such as the torchwood - and you can buy more coins for real life currency. You can also buy gems, which give your plants power ups when you plant them, and you can use the coins to give your plants plant food, which is also a power up.
Is this the way things are going? Am I wrong to be a bit cynical after the zombies violated my coin purse? Is there still some hope? Or should I abandon the PvZ ship knowing EA is at the helm?
Your thoughts?
Oh and apologies for the lengthy post, if it seems a bit much to read.
These took place in many "free to play" games and I suppose it was a way for the developers to actually make some cash for their efforts. Fair enough, but I have seen many reviewers explaining how the "pay to win" philosophy has killed games for people. For example, new users can pay for all the cool stuff while someone who doesn't have cash, grinds their way to a high level and is subsequently destroyed in a duel. That's a game representing the real world where those with power and money survive, whereas it used to be about skill, they say.
I pretty much managed to dodge "pay to win" gaming until I hit Plants vs Zombies 2 on my Android phone. Sure, it isn't PC/console gaming, but I can actually understand the anger of those reviewers. In this instance, someone didn't beat me after paying for all the good plants - the game isn't PvP - it became just too difficult to play without using power ups, which cost in game coins. You can earn coins by playing just about any level and survival levels gave you a chance to test your skill and earn coins as long as you kept going. I loved the first game and paid cash money for it. I was happy to and even bought a copy for my girlfriend who enjoyed the game as well.
I noticed the second was available and downloaded it months ago. The game went through different stages of updates. It was definitely tougher than the first one, but you could get through the first few levels, like Ancient Egypt and Pirate Seas, with decent strategy. Your power ups, which cost in game coins, could be used when you were in a pinch. I pretty much went through the survival modes of the different times in the game and saved up about 50 000 coins over the months. I initially planned to spend those coins on defeating Dr Zomboss by using the power ups to whittle his healthy down a little faster.
I ended up defeating him with little help from the coins, but between the garden and the survival levels, I always had some coins to spare. Then came the Dark Ages update, and more recently, the Dark Ages part 2.
Suddenly it felt like my pea shooters were actual, you know, pea shooters. The zombies rushed through and destroyed my plants way too quickly and I ended up using 30 000 coins in power ups just to get through 10 levels of the game. I relied less and less on my plants and more and more on the power ups. It stopped becoming Plants vs Zombies and became Power ups vs Zombies.
The reason I was annoyed is because, well, I enjoyed using my plants to stop the zombies. Now there's a wizard SOB who turns your plants into sheep, a king who knights zombies and gives them metal helmets and a jester who throws your projectiles back, which damages your plants and practically makes half of them redundant.
I am all up for a challenge but this was ridiculous. What's the point of playing the game if your plants aren't the ones slaying the undead? I understand they maybe wanted you to use your coins, but I completed a level with very few actual plants. The game also has in app purchases for other plants - such as the torchwood - and you can buy more coins for real life currency. You can also buy gems, which give your plants power ups when you plant them, and you can use the coins to give your plants plant food, which is also a power up.
Is this the way things are going? Am I wrong to be a bit cynical after the zombies violated my coin purse? Is there still some hope? Or should I abandon the PvZ ship knowing EA is at the helm?
Your thoughts?
Oh and apologies for the lengthy post, if it seems a bit much to read.
