Microtransactions in Shmups

[Michaelm]

So if a company gets hired to fix a job in a month and they're not ready after that month they should receive their full payment nonetheless and they should get paid extra for the extra time they need to finish the job. Even if it was agreed it would be finished after the 1st month ?

Most people in the video gaming industry paid in either one of two ways normaly. Some lucky few [snip]

That's not what I meant really.
I've altered the above quote to hopefully be more clear.
Company vs company don't take such shit.
Why should company vs individual be any different ?

[Gungriffon Geona]

This whole idea is goofy as all hell. Why would anyone pay for something if you don't get any physical object in return? I don't understand why anyone would do that. I don't even really like the idea of XBLA or Nintendo's VC. Although there is the possibility to play games for fairly cheap. You don't actually get the game, so you can only play it on your console and no where else. Also, if you HD goes wacky, you lose it and can never get it back. I give this idea two thumbs down.

This is why Steam is a good thing. if you lose your games they're still attatched to your account and you can redownload them FREE OF CHARGE. when that system catches on more we won't get this bullshit about paying for games again anymore.

[BiQ]

This is why Steam is a good thing. if you lose your games they're still attatched to your account and you can redownload them FREE OF CHARGE. when that system catches on more we won't get this bullshit about paying for games again anymore.

That is, as long as the company behind the service cares to run the servers. I can still start up my NES and play some Ducktales on it, regardless if some server across the ocean is running or not. This is why we should be able to at least make backups of online-distributed content.

[sfried]

Perhaps I should clarify my post a bit:

How about a downloadable arcade perfect port of a title....right down to its reliance on coins-for-credits, only this time, you would be paying with a credit card?

The way it works is that it tallies the amount of "coins inserted" used at the end of the day and then charge that amount every midnight. That way, credit cards do not get overdrafted for having too many microtransactions occuring within the account, and instead it could be a day-by-day basis of "coin-collecting."

Note, the download itself is completely free of charge, since every play pays for itself (quite literally).

That's the only way I could think of a proper use of microtransactions for shmups. It keeps the "tourny legality" of the game intact while still generating revenue.

[Ceph]

How about a downloadable arcade perfect port of a title....right down to its reliance on coins-for-credits, only this time, you would be paying with a credit card?

While I'm sure companies would love that, what makes you think that any player would like to be ripped off like that and go for it? That's insane. The point of playing games on consoles at home is NOT having to pay each time you play. You are trying to troll, right?

Ban please.

[Necronom]

Ban please.

You gotta be fucking kidding?! I seriously hope you meant this as some kind of lame joke and don't expect that somebody gets banned for posting a - well, let's call it a rather far fetched - comment.

[Ceph]

Heh. "ban please" is kind of a recurring joke around here. Not to be confused with "lock please", which is usually more serious.

[echan00]

Wow. So many replies...

Based on the responses, I think I should first clarify my idea/question a bit more:

1) What if the game was free to play? You could play the game A LOT to earn experience, and then unlock items and extra ships; or you could pay for them straight up. Hell, maybe even pay a subscription (or a equivalent one-time-payment) to allow the player earn experience more quickly.

2) We are assuming you have not paid anything up until the Microtransaction. So its really no different from a coin-op arcade...

3) The extra items, upgrades, and ships don't give you an advantage. They're just different (kind of like the different characters in fighting games). The game will still be more or less fair and based on skill rather than how many days you've spent grinding.

4) Ship Appearance Customizations - these obviously don't make a difference to gameplay, its only for players that want it. I would imagine some people are willing to pay/play for these changes to standout from the crowd?

The only way for a developer to continue to create and introduce new content (such as ships, items, etc...) is if the consumers are willing to continue to pay for it (and continue generate revenue for the developer/publisher).

Maybe its just me....but the opportunity to play a game until I want to pay for anything doesn't seem like that bad of a proposition.

[SFKhoa]

3) The extra items, upgrades, and ships don't give you an advantage. They're just different (kind of like the different characters in fighting games). The game will still be more or less fair and based on skill rather than how many days you've spent grinding.

That just gives even less of an incentive for people to even do microtransactions.
EDIT: Actually, it does. Never mind. XD

[CMoon]

Most people here don't even want unlimited continues on their shumps. Why would they want this crap?

[The Coop]

The only way for a developer to continue to create and introduce new content (such as ships, items, etc...) is if the consumers are willing to continue to pay for it (and continue generate revenue for the developer/publisher).

As I said in an earlier post, companies have been giving out game upgrades and new content for free via patches for many years. The only time you really pay for it is when it's a serious amount of extra stuff, and that's usually put out as an expansion pack (but even they're given out for free from time to time) rather than a simple patch or upgrade. I see no reason to start paying for minor extras/items just to make my spaceship look super spiffy special. $40-$80 is enough to pay for a game without being told "Want more than the bare bones stuff we gave you? Bend over and take it up the wallet".

If a game company wants to make money, let them take the time needed to make good games that are filled with content and have a real chance at selling well... not try to sucker people in with a bunch of small, insignificant charges for shit that should have been included in the game in the first place (I say this because it's a safe bet that game companies already know what they want to "offer" via microtransactions before the game's ever sold).

[echan00]

As I said in an earlier post, companies have been giving out game upgrades and new content for free via patches for many years. The only time you really pay for it is when it's a serious amount of extra stuff, and that's usually put out as an expansion pack (but even they're given out for free from time to time) rather than a simple patch or upgrade. I see no reason to start paying for minor extras/items just to make my spaceship look super spiffy special. $40-$80 is enough to pay for a game without being told "Want more than the bare bones stuff we gave you? Bend over and take it up the wallet".

But you're assuming the consumer has already paid a base price for the game before any microtransactions?

Thats different from being Free to Play until any microtransactions?

[Pixel_Outlaw]

How can we keep scores when people are playing so many different versions of the game? The only things that might work are simple color changes.

Ther might have to be hundreds of score boards to track the unique games.

[echan00]

What do you mean different versions of the game?

There may be a couple game channels (for tournaments and paying/non-paying players).....nothing crazy. It wouldn't be any different than other online PC games out there...

[The Coop]

As I said in an earlier post, companies have been giving out game upgrades and new content for free via patches for many years. The only time you really pay for it is when it's a serious amount of extra stuff, and that's usually put out as an expansion pack (but even they're given out for free from time to time) rather than a simple patch or upgrade. I see no reason to start paying for minor extras/items just to make my spaceship look super spiffy special. $40-$80 is enough to pay for a game without being told "Want more than the bare bones stuff we gave you? Bend over and take it up the wallet".

But you're assuming the consumer has already paid a base price for the game before any microtransactions?

Thats different from being Free to Play until any microtransactions?

They're not going to give you Need For Speed Carbon 3, Halo 3 or Dance Dance Revolution Mega Mix Ultra Smooth Blend Hyper Breakbeat 3 for free. And even if a game is able to be bought with just achievements or points, you'll still have to have spent money to get them by owning and playing other games, and/or paying for the online service. What you're describing sounds more like the way shareware used to work back in the day (you can play part of it for free, but you have to buy it to unlock the rest of the game).

[echan00]

What you're describing sounds more like the way shareware used to work back in the day (you can play part of it for free, but you have to buy it to unlock the rest of the game).

Yah. I suppose thats what I meant. The only difference being that instead of buying it altogether when you've decided its worth your money, you pay small fees for tidbits you want.

[PROMETHEUS]

What's next, highscores for sale? :roll:

This gets my award of "Post Of The Week" :D

[Atamosk]

www.starsonata.com
Ubelievably some people pay for this basement project of a game.

So that would be a yes.