You know how we all complain about microtransactions on forums and social media? Take-Two (the company that controls labels like Rockstar and 2K) literally doesn’t give a crap, as it’s cashing in big time on titles like Grand Theft Auto Online and NBA 2K18. In fact, “recurrent consumer spending opportunities” (that’s a euphemism for microtransactions by the way) have become such an enormous part of the publisher’s business that it plans to incorporate them into every game.
“We've said that we aim to have recurrent consumer spending opportunities for every title that we put out at this company,” boss Strauss Zelnick said, presumably with his pinkie pointed towards the corner of his lips. “It may not always be an online model, it probably won't always be a virtual currency model, but there will be some ability to engage in an ongoing basis with our titles after release across the board.”
That will almost certainly include Red Dead Redemption 2, so brace yourself for loot boxes and loan sharks and collectible trading cards. “One of the things we've learned is if we create a robust opportunity and a robust world in which people can play delightfully in a bigger and bigger way, that they will keep coming back,” Zelnick added. “They will engage. And there is an opportunity to monetise that engagement. There's a lot of room for growth. This is just the beginning.”
Excuse us a moment, we think we’re going to be sick.
[source gamasutra.com]
Comments 60
That quote from Zelnick is what all publishers and platform holders are thinking by the way. And it doesn't matter how much we cry and moan on websites like this, it's making them cash hand over fist.
“One of the things we've learned is if we create a robust opportunity and a robust world in which people can play delightfully in a bigger and bigger way, that they will keep coming back,” Zelnick added. “They will engage. And there is an opportunity to monetise that engagement. There's a lot of room for growth. This is just the beginning.”
in other words we don't care about you all we want is your money, it's just we aint hiding it anymore
You know the devil in the film Time Bandits? When he says "I haven't come up with anything good since... Advertising."
Well now we know what his next project is.
I wonder how many AAA publishers haven’t done Microtransactions as of yet
Btw I mean in terms of in thier Paid AAA games not mobile games that is kinda expected there...
Sigh - to be honest, I'd be more surprised now if there was an announcement that a major game title DIDN'T have micro-transactions. I hope this is relegated to any online or MP component, just because Red Dead 2 was one of those single player experiences I was really really looking forward to.
I still think it is right to complain though and also to vote with wallets, though that said there are a few people I know who moan about it and then go out and buy the latest title with micr-transactions in them then moan about them afterwards. Oh and please show me evidence that game companies just HAVE to do this because games are too expensive nowadays to make. This is profit making not necessary revenue generation.
“And there is an opportunity to monetise that engagement ...”
That quote is the strategic business babblings of the boardroom and just seems so pretentious to say that to the consumer. I know a company has to make profits and that’s why they exist, but it’s so condescending sounding to say this despite the uproar from gamers about microtransactions on nearly every gaming website.
We all know these executives feel this way, but they don’t need to rub our faces in it. “We’re going to make money off these strategies whether you like it or not”
I really don’t want to know how the sausage is made. These jokers need to take some PR lessons. Tell us how you are going to make your products better for the players, not how your going to bleed the consumer to line your pockets more.
It's unsustainable. I don't think people are going to spend more money on gaming out of nowhere, I don't think they're necessarily going to spend more time on gaming either. Bigger and longer games made to monetise your experience also means that people will probably play fewer games and spend more on a single game.
Meaning that we're also going to see a good amount of them flop. Could it also mean less diversity? If the game is made to make more money, then you want to be sure it becomes a hit. Less incentive to take risks.
HAHAHAHA. Very happy to say I definitely won't be giving this a try then.
I understand the ire but I just don't think I care any more. I mean, if they weren't trying to get money out of us with these they'd just be doing it another way. And anyone silly enough to pay for this stuff is paying for the development of another great game down the line.
I've not bought a single microtransaction in GTA Online and own near enough everything. As long as they remain entirely optional, I'm not fussed. I'm certainly not going to spit my dummy out and boycott what is likely to be a quality game.
I look forward to purchasing my copy of Red Dead Redemption 2 on launch day from my local pawn shop or CEX.
As @Octane said, it's unsustainable. You can only bleed so much blood from a stone.
I hope the microtransaction is only in the multiplayer part of the game like gta5, I don't want mt in single player mode
I'm in the place now where, like @johncalmc I don't really care.
I don't like the pay to win model, but equally I don't tend to play online multiplayer so it's not a real issue for me.
In game in single player, haven't needed to buy anything in AS:O so as long as they are cosmetic and optional and not "nah, you won't finish without it" then I'm fine. Especially if the alternative to fund bigger and bigger budgets would be to push the initial price up to £80 or the likes.
This is garbage. I would rather pay $70, $80, or even $100 for a fully fleshed out game without microtransactions than $60 for a game that includes them.
Strauss Zelnick can go **** himself
Wasn't going to get the game anyway, as I hate the concept of having "sequels" be set as "prequels"
Like @get2sammyb said no amount of complaining is going to stop this ball from rolling.
The handful amount of people that will boycott isn't enough to affect anything really.
They are here to stay.
RIP 2K, you are dead to me.
@Splat
That doesn't mean we have to make it pleasant for 2K though. Even if they're here to stay, the more we can make it a PR nightmare for them every time they talk about putting microtransactions in the better.
As long as micro transactions are optional and not required to complete a game/mission I don't really care if they are there or not.
People acting like this is the first time ever that a company has put making money over everything else. #1 rule of business is making the shareholders happy. Everything else is incidental.
By creating an engaging world, you will become addicted and come back. And we are going to profit off your addiction.
Cynical yet sincere. Only T2/R* game I own is RDR, I may keep it that way.
If true, then nooooo buy. Good luck for the future. There are plenty of games to play that wont nickel and dime me.
Another day, another game with microtransactions...
wont be buying this crap then if we all decided not to buy games with micro transactions lets see how long they last for
Rockstar has fallen lets see how many people will defend this.
@Splat Funny look at your Avatar the game that made DLC at a reasonal price and WTF no microtransactions.
You would hope that people would put their foot down and say "no" to this sort of stuff, but people will be buying these in droves I'll bet. I'll even admit to having done micro transactions in MGSV a few times in the past so I admit I'm part of the problem. I regret it and won't ever be doing it again though. My plan is just to ignore most games that have them (most games that do aren't usually games I'd want anyway), or if it's a game I really want, get the game and ignore the feature entirely.
Also, that quote about there being an opportunity to monetise those interactions is just...you aren't even trying to hide anything are you?
Here's an idea people, if you don't like them don't buy them. No one is forcing you to buy the microtransactions.
@Tasuki Like I said, that's my plan going forward.
If I ever get into politics, I will work my butt off to have microtransactions with a randomized element classified as 18+ gambling.
@Flaming_Kaiser Don't get me wrong I'm not defending microtransactions they suck. It's just that most gamers don't really care or not enough to stop buying these games.
If people stop buying micro-transactions they will no longer be part of gaming. We buy them, they add them, simple...
http://askagamedev.tumblr.com/post/167200111597/a-youtuber-named-tarmack-recently-made-a-video
Games are very very expensive to make. Period.
If monetisation and microtransactions get in the way of the single player of RDR2, then this game will drop from a must-have game for me to something that I might get in a sale.
I get it, I understand it; but wow that was a blunt statement and I would think damaging for brand image. For what? To satisfy a few share holders?
"They will engage. And there is an opportunity to monetise that engagement. There's a lot of room for growth. This is just the beginning.”
That's the most sinister thing I have read in ages... I just dont get why you would say it like that . If this is the beginning, what is the end? The model EA are suggesting? Something else? sad times indeed
@Principledgamer Please can you stop linking to your Tumblr. You've repeatedly done it in a number of comments now and it's starting to look like self-promotion.
Thank you.
@Th3solution @Rob_230 To be fair he was on a conference call to investors and the quote came from a "source".
Edit: actually full audio here. Cant be bothered to find the exact moment he discusses this but it would be interesting to hear the tone and what he goes on to say, should people be bothered.
https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/52ozdpst
Did he look like this when he said it?
Oh I give in. Micro transucktions yay.
@get2sammyb no worries. Not my page btw. Just trying to have actual discussion other than, “excuse us a moment, I think we are going to be sick”. I have read many articles on your site, by you I might ad, lamenting the negativity in the comments and internet in general... especially when it comes to video games. Just thought someone who makes it their job to write about video games would at least acknowledge another side to the story, that it’s not us vs them, devs and publishers are not the evil monopoly guy, and based on sales many gamers find good value propositions from microtransactions. Microtransactions are not inherently good or bad... they are a product like anything else, and up to each dev to produce a product people see value in.
@kyleforrester87 completely true and I get that sound bytes can be completely taken out of context; but Strauss has been in the game a long time now so would know this is a hot topic and that the media would jump on it. I dunno; its just really disapointing to hear Take 2 taking such an agressive approach, given how positive they are for the industry
@Rob_230 it's the sort of conversation publishers will be having, they are in it for the money first and foremost. It's no bad thing really, we all want to get paid after all. Hopefully they'll balance it out with a quality project. I'm sure they will.
@Octane Microtransactions make a lot more money than what DLC ever will, hence this push for them and obviously people are buying them on top of already spending around £49.99.
wow this is so dishearting. if items are locked behind rng boxes or something like trading cards mention in the article, i will not be supporting this bs
@Kogorn733 here in canada full priced games (im talking regular old default editions) on the ps store already cost $80!
@Principledgamer @Rob_230 @kyleforrester87
I am no expert in business, so I won’t pretend to be one, but I just know good service and value when I see it. When I go out and spend my hard earned cash, I like to feel appreciated and I want to feel like a got a good deal. I like the waiter at the restaurant to smile and say thank you and ask what else I need, I like the retailer where I buy my clothes to bend over backwards and show me some appreciation and give me my options when I spend money in their store, etc., etc. This Zelnick guy’s dialog to the gamer is like the restaurant owner coming out and saying, “I hope you like the meal, because we try to make you want more. In fact, I’d like to offer you desert for a few extra dollars because I can make some more money from you that way.” Does he want to make the money from me? Of course. But once the consumer realizes he is only being played for more money, the quality of the experience goes to pot. All I’m saying is that at the end of the day, we pay these guys salaries. The least they could do is feign that they want to serve the gamers who keep them in their penthouses. The practice of microtransactions is not necessarily my beef with this quote— I understand they are profitable and help keep developers employed —but it’s the gall of the guy to insult me as consumer and openly say his whole motivation is to try to trick the players into doing something that he can “monetize.” Again, tell that to the shareholders. I want to hear him simply say, “We want to produce an engaging world they keep coming back to and will want to feel is a good value, so we are dedicated to produce the best game possible for the players with constant updates that will motivate them to stay playing with us for many quality hours.” Or something like that.
I know. I’m a naive dolt and an idealist. It’s why I’d make a horrible corporate executive.
And no I didn’t listen to the original quote on that link (didn’t want to be fussed to register for the site) so if this was a conversation that was private and leaked, then I can apologize and I retract my whole above statement because he can say whatever he wants in private. But to the public, to say it that way was poor form.
@Th3solution but you're interpreting "it's just the beginning" as something evil with a "mwahaha" at the end. He's basically telling investors it's early days with new initiatives that appear to be profitable, and that by creating worlds people want to stay in they can generate additional income. If you read it again with a neautral mindset, he's clearly not insulting consumers. This site and others have just put an excessive negative spin on it, in my opinion. I get it though, this sort of talk is always going to rile hardcore gamers up and makes for "fun" articles.
@kyleforrester87 You’re probably right. Mr. Zelnick probably is a nice guy and has sweet little kids at home who he reads to every night, and volunteers at the local homeless shelter on the weekends before he plays the keyboard to entertain the old folks at the convalescent home. I’m sure he’s not the sinister schemer we have pictured in our minds. But it is fun to have these discussions since we are all so passionate about our hobby. This is the internet. Over reacting is what we do.
@Tasuki ''if you don't like them don't buy them''
That sounds great in theory, but you know very well that publishers don't implement them without any incentive. Because we are at a point where it affect game development. Games are made with micro-transactions in mind. Sure, you can grind your way through the game, but you can also spend $1.99 to speed up the process. If MT's didn't exist, that grind wouldn't be there in the first place.
@Octane My point exactly the grind is there so you don't have to buy the microtransactions. And no grinding is not there because of the microtransactions. Grinding has always been a part of gaming. Look at older JRPGs for example.
I'll wait and see. I thought the system in GTA V was a good compromise. Make everything in GTA online achievable with ingame work, jobs and credits. Offer bullshark cards for the boost in ingame cash. But if this is all about micro transactions, I'm out. Voting with my wallet since this year, making it even more of a habit the next. Only bought 4 games this year.
@Tasuki Doesn't mean grinding can be worse. Like I said, there has to be an incentive for the users to buy the micro-transactions in the first place. No matter how much you ignore them, they will affect the gameplay to some degree.
@Tasuki It would be naive to think some games aren't specifically altered or designed to make microtransactions & loot boxes more desirable.
If one of the ways they can do this is to artificially extend the grind beyond what most would enjoy, they will seriously consider doing that and remind you that paying them extra will shortcut that. Simply ignoring something doesn't always work.
People do not want micotransactions. Then i hear people oh I wait till the game drops to $40 before I buy it and then sell it 2nd hand. Gamers can not have it every way.
Games companies are a business not a charity. They make a product that has to be profitiable or its a failure.
If you do not agree with the practise of microtransactions then do not buy the game. Its pretty simple really. Its a vocal minority who seem to object to them otherwise games with microtransactions would bomb.
@Th3solution They just wanna get paid, like everyone else Of course they would love direct access to our wallets, but the bottom line is they will always need to make an appealing product that consumers will flock to. To be fair, if this year of great games is of any indication develops and publishers haven't forgotten this!
@dryrain @kyleforrester87 Yeah, who would have thought that discussion about how we want our video games developed would boil down to a deep analysis of societal constructs and economics. It’s the double edged sword of the free market and a democratic system — those of us with half a brain wish we could control the idiotic wants and desires of the masses, but in the end, the majority rules and we have to live with their stupid economic or political decisions. Short of having government intervention to legislate rules to “protect” the common man from doing something to harm himself or others, the almighty dollar (or pound, or yen, ...) rules. It’s why we inexplicably have McDonalds and The Fast and the Furious movies — for some strange reason people pay good money for them.
Anyways, good discussion. I better stop before the moderators tell me to not veer off topic ...
Uh, Down with microtransactions!
@Th3solution :')
To be fair, the Biftas will make robbing a train ten times easier.
@LieutenantFatman It's not so much that games have added grinding but societies change of I have to have it now mentality. Kids and most adulls don't have the patience for stuff like grinding and if there is a quicker way of doing it then that's the route people go. And these companies prey on that.
@Tasuki You do make a valid point. There is definitely a lack of patience these days which is easy to exploit with this business model.
I doubt this will change the plot/story beyond optional content.
I'll be pissed if games start to require more grinding if you want to stay 100% free while gaming though.
@Splat <3 the Simpsons reference.
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