Comments on Hit Self-Destruct: One Thousand Little Cuts

It's all about disposable income - despite all the...

2008-08-08T10:45:00.000+12:00

It's all about disposable income - despite all the complaining about how much games cost, people will still pay. Yes, I'm a bit annoyed that my 360 games cost $10 more than if I were to buy then for the PC, but that's the price I pay for convenience.

But going back to your microtransaction topic, I think your post title (ostensibly referring to Flagship's demise) is really the key here. Players are MORE than willing to take a few paper cuts here and there (i.e. pay a modest sum over and over) to get some extra stuff. "It's just a few extra dollars" they justify to themselves. Rinse, repeat, and before they know it they've spent a good deal than they would have otherwise.

As far as Flagship goes, well, Hellgate just wasn't all that great. It was hailed as Diablo's spiritual successor, yet it didn't have 1/2 the polish that Diablo had, it looked somewhat generic and generally bland, and yes, the pricing scheme turned people off. Overpromising + Underdelivering = Outta Business. Simple as that.

Forgot to mention this - I think they talked about...

2008-08-04T09:40:00.000+12:00

Forgot to mention this - I think they talked about microtransactions two weeks ago on the Games For Windows podcast, how some publisher mentioned they had 2% of the people who bought Some Game buying their DLC and how that was actually a really good, profitable outcome.

Which would explain why publishers keep going on about DLC.

(Sorry for the vagueness, I should really relisten to the podcast, I just can't be bothered at the moment.. ha.)

I especially enjoyed "500 feet in the air.. that's...

2008-08-04T09:31:00.000+12:00

I especially enjoyed "500 feet in the air.. that's our office.. our playground..".

"Are game revenues in such bad shape that these measures are necessary? Any gamer familiar with DLC or microtransactions knows enough not to care about them. The experience they offer is small or absent. What about the subject, then, so excites gamers? What keeps it in the public consciousness?"

In regard to your last question - I'd say the publishers are what keep it in the public consciousness, they just won't shut up about DLC and those damn fiddly transactions!

I think these are generally heady times for consumers, money-for-gameswise. People see games growing ever shorter while the price stays the same, then something like Portal pops up which seems the perfect length and charging $20 seems okay (and if it doesn't, just get it as part of the Orange Box, then it suddenly seems like it's almost given away), then episodic content gets thrown at gamers, differing wildly in length and quality (just like 'real' games!), but then something like Episode 2 in the HL2 series seems okay at $15 again, because it's Half-Life you know!?? (although are episodes that come out every 18 months really episodic?), then Penny Arcade's episodic game comes out and seems overcharged at $15.. etc, etc, etc.

Throw in some microtransactions and most gamers don't know where they are.

You're right, we shouldn't care about them. But DLC also plays into that psychological thing of worrying you're "missing something".

These are torturous times for the poor gamer!

They chose a comfortable life...

I chose th...

2008-08-03T15:22:00.000+12:00

They chose a comfortable life...

I chose the Mirror's Edge.

WOW

Little bit off-topic, but also defiantly on-old-to...

2008-08-03T00:18:00.000+12:00