NBA 2K14 VC Shows Its Ugly Side

[seanbarkley]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sundown

You know, I'm actually okay with microtransactions implemented well. I'm even okay with DLCs-- because it's somewhat easy to evaluate whether or not the base game provides enough content and value for your money and whether you're willing to pay a little more as a content completist. I am NOT okay with a game where the full game can't be enjoyed because progress is made artificially difficult and unsatisfying to encourage you to spend another 20-40 dollars. I'm not okay with a design that encourages players to spend money to bypass actual play time and the effort-reward mechanic completely, and I'm not okay with microtransations that purposefully fuel game imbalances between the rich and lazy and those who just want to play the game they purchased.

I'm OK with microtransactions if the game is free or 0.99, otherwise you are paying full retail price for it. Aren't $60 enough?

I'm OK with DLCs when they have after-release work involved, but these last 2 years we've seen how we payed retail price for a game, and a couple of months later they sold a DLC or some pack which was known to be included on the CD in the release day. Jesus, we have seen how in Asura's Wrath they sold us the actual ending of the game with a DLC.

I respect ur opinion man, but I don't share all of your thoughts. We as users should complain and raise our voices against these practices or things are gonna get ugly.

[Sundown]

Quote: Originally Posted by RangersCruz

wow...i said in a few hours as in say anywhere from 6-12 you can earn 30k off simulating it alone if you complete the goals which are not hard to do if you want to play 25-30 games for that 30k VC go ahead im not doing that

And that right there is everything wrong with the VC implementation.

You are encouraged to NOT play the game, but to look for loopholes and shortcuts, and failing that, to purchase VC in order to bypass the actual game.

2K has lost the "just one more" feeling that wins hearts and gives games their longevity, because it actually undermines their business model.

Because of 2K's focus on VC profits, the more you play, the more money they don't make-- therefore, a profitable design with those constraints is one which you play enough to realize satisfying progression is not possible in all modes of the game. By your account, that design appears to be working.

[Bornindamecca]

My question from the other forum
In recent news, there have been many online related problems in NBA2K14, partially because the VC system is integrated into every game mode. Some people are against microtransactions altogether. I'm not. As we want more realism and features, games are gonna get more expensive to make. Specific to this year, it's almost impossible for 2k to recoup it's money because the install base for the next gen game is not high enough for a legit profit unless they have 100% saturation, which is not realistic.

That having been said, if you paid 65 dollars for a game, you deserve a complete experience that requires no further investment. Your game should work properly and deliver on the promises of the publisher without asking you to do anything besides play.

What's fair for MTs in a sports game? This is a new area, and if the sports community wants to keep companies from abusing this tactic, we all need to be as clear and unified as possible when it comes to this increasingly important issue.

Excluding the idea of "no microtransactions", as that is a bit unrealistic, what do you think is appropriate and what do you think is inappropriate?

Personally, I feel that the core offline and head to head experience should be unaffected by microtransactions. It should be a complete, functional and fair experience. In single player, it shouldn't be pay to play, and in multiplayer, it shouldn't be pay to win. MTs should be an optional enhancer for the hardcore players that want "extras" or an accelerant for those with more disposable income than disposable time.

How about you? I appreciate your feedback.

--"Books" NB2 aka Bornindamecca

(accidentally posted this in the current gen forum, though it still applies)

[Da_Czar]

I am also not a fan of how 2K implemented VC this year. I would like it restricted as much as possible to myteam or make the economy of earning vs costs more affordable. I will never be able to afford a gold pack in my team while simultaneously trying to upgrade my myplayer without spending cash.

[poloelite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Sundown

And that right there is everything wrong with the VC implementation. You are encouraged to NOT play the game, but to look for loopholes and shortcuts, and failing that, to purchase VC in order to bypass the actual game. 2K has lost the "just one more" feeling that wins hearts and gives games their longevity, because it actually undermines their business model. Because of 2K's focus on VC profits, the more you play, the more money they don't make-- therefore, a profitable design with those constraints is one which you play enough to realize satisfying progression is not possible in all modes of the game. By your account, that design appears to be working.

How are we encouraged to NOT play this game?? For me if it takes 82 days to play a regular season, that's about 75,000 VC. If I'm using the app every day and getting free VC, that's probably another 82,000 VC. So in less than 3 months I could be sitting on 150,000 VC just from playing the game that is actually good. I don't see the issue here.

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by Da_Czar

I am also not a fan of how 2K implemented VC this year. I would like it restricted as much as possible to myteam or make the economy of earning vs costs more affordable. I will never be able to afford a gold pack in my team while simultaneously trying to upgrade my myplayer without spending cash.

This is exactly it. You can play ONE game mode according to the rules, but there's no way you can enjoy the full game without buying VC unless you play 2k in equivalence of a full time job shift.

[poloelite]

Quote: Originally Posted by Da_Czar

I am also not a fan of how 2K implemented VC this year. I would like it restricted as much as possible to myteam or make the economy of earning vs costs more affordable. I will never be able to afford a gold pack in my team while simultaneously trying to upgrade my myplayer without spending cash.

Czar what's up family?? I could be reaching here, but I think the point they're getting at is they want the game to last all year long. So building a player in a more sim time frame and for us to not have Gold Players until we go deeper into myTeam. I'm not sure how domination mode works, but if you beat the team and get 3 stars, do you get a gold player from that team?

[Sundown]

Quote: Originally Posted by seanbarkley

I'm OK with microtransactions if the game is free or 0.99, otherwise you are paying full retail price for it. Aren't $60 enough? I'm OK with DLCs when they have after-release work involved, but these last 2 years we've seen how we payed retail price for a game, and a couple of months later they sold a DLC or some pack which was known to be included on the CD in the release day. Jesus, we have seen how in Asura's Wrath they sold us the actual ending of the game with a DLC. I respect ur opinion man, but I don't share all of your thoughts. We as users should complain and raise our voices against these practices or things are gonna get ugly.

These are my personal preferences.

I don't feel like I'm necessarily "owed" everything on the disk-- but I do feel like the content I'm purchasing should be satisfactory and complete (and games should have proper endings without additional spending). I think they do better to not include DLC on the disk and have them be downloads even if it's ready on launch day, just to fix perception issues.

I also imagine that DLC on the disk sometimes necessitate additional after-release assets, work, patching, or testing. Most DLCs can't be completed unless they've been started well during the production cycle of the main game, so in the end all I care about is expectations, quality, and value.

I'm also fine with microtransactions for minor progress boosts that increase variety in some games or add bits of additional cosmetic content that is hopefully constantly updated. I'm okay with how it appears to be implemented in some games like BF4. Progress in the base game should still be satisfying. BF4 manages microtransations without being a Pay-To-Win game.

Progress in the base game in 2K is not satisfying. It doesn't qualify as any of the above. In some ways, it may be the most expensive, unabashedly Pay-To-Win game ever released when we consider modes like MyTeam with its price increases and The Park.

Anyway, these are my personal levels of tolerance for DLC and microtransactions. At the end of the day, I ask if the content is worth it and whether a disproportionate amount of content or progress is held hostage behind a paywall.