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EA activates cosmetic ingame purchases for Star Wars Battlefront II
Paid microtransactions for aesthetic upgrades are coming back to Star Wars: Battlefront II. Game publisher EA makes the controversial 'crystals' available again, starting April 18th.
EA decided in November to remove the crystals from the game. The presence of microtransactions led to controversy because the virtual currency gave the players the opportunity to obtain a strategic advantage, for payment.
With the newly added crystals, players can only buy aesthetic upgrades from Wednesday to allow players to customize the appearance of their character. Players can get the crystals in their possession by buying them with real money, but the virtual currency can also be earned by playing the game. EA added "loot boxes' in March again. These controversial virtual treasuries also contain objects that can provide a strategic advantage. Just like the crystals, the loot boxes can now only be used to earn cosmetic upgrades.
The Laughing Ma
Senior Member
Posts: 3517
Joined: 2008-04-12
Senior Member
Posts: 3517
Joined: 2008-04-12
#5538025 Posted on: 04/16/2018 12:16 PM
Sad thing is because that comment has now gained some traction just give it a little bit of time before Pink Vader is put in the game and anyone want a bet that it will be one of the more expensive reskins?
Where's the pink darth vader?
Sad thing is because that comment has now gained some traction just give it a little bit of time before Pink Vader is put in the game and anyone want a bet that it will be one of the more expensive reskins?
schmidtbag
Senior Member
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Joined: 2012-11-10
Senior Member
Posts: 3235
Joined: 2012-11-10
#5538105 Posted on: 04/16/2018 03:27 PM
Isn't this like the 3rd or 4th time EA has tried to figure out how to implement MTs into this game?
I find it a bit ironic how obsessive EA is over MTs and gambling tactics. Gambling is supposed to encourage people to keep paying more money, despite the fact you'll never get it all back; you're going to lose out eventually. To me, it is EA who has the gambling problem - they're so addicted to adding MTs despite the fact that it's just lowering the popularity of the game. At first it was outrageous, now it's just sad and pathetic.
Isn't this like the 3rd or 4th time EA has tried to figure out how to implement MTs into this game?
I find it a bit ironic how obsessive EA is over MTs and gambling tactics. Gambling is supposed to encourage people to keep paying more money, despite the fact you'll never get it all back; you're going to lose out eventually. To me, it is EA who has the gambling problem - they're so addicted to adding MTs despite the fact that it's just lowering the popularity of the game. At first it was outrageous, now it's just sad and pathetic.
Fox2232
Senior Member
Posts: 7588
Joined: 2012-07-20
Senior Member
Posts: 7588
Joined: 2012-07-20
#5538108 Posted on: 04/16/2018 03:43 PM
I see nothing wrong with visual MT as long as it is not gamble based and does not give advantage (better camo).
Pink Vader would not give advantage to anyone. (Walking attention seeker.)
...unless there is Willy Wonka's Candy Factory Map.
I see nothing wrong with visual MT as long as it is not gamble based and does not give advantage (better camo).
Pink Vader would not give advantage to anyone. (Walking attention seeker.)
...unless there is Willy Wonka's Candy Factory Map.
schmidtbag
Senior Member
Posts: 3235
Joined: 2012-11-10
Senior Member
Posts: 3235
Joined: 2012-11-10
#5538119 Posted on: 04/16/2018 04:15 PM
I agree - cosmetic MTs aren't that bad. But context plays a role here. In a lot of games, cosmetic MTs are mostly just there so people can show their enthusiasm for the game - it gives them a little flare while the devs get some bonus cash. It's important to distinguish that in most of these cases, the devs don't depend on these MTs for revenue. But considering how hard EA has been pushing MTs, it just looks like they're begging "please give us money, this game has a lot of debt to pay off".
I see nothing wrong with visual MT as long as it is not gamble based and does not give advantage (better camo).
I agree - cosmetic MTs aren't that bad. But context plays a role here. In a lot of games, cosmetic MTs are mostly just there so people can show their enthusiasm for the game - it gives them a little flare while the devs get some bonus cash. It's important to distinguish that in most of these cases, the devs don't depend on these MTs for revenue. But considering how hard EA has been pushing MTs, it just looks like they're begging "please give us money, this game has a lot of debt to pay off".
LevelSteam
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Posts: 55
Joined: 2014-01-14
Member
Posts: 55
Joined: 2014-01-14
#5538133 Posted on: 04/16/2018 04:47 PM
To me, it is EA who has the gambling problem - they're so addicted to adding MTs despite the fact that it's just lowering the popularity of the game. At first it was outrageous, now it's just sad and pathetic.
They're doing fine as far as I know. All EA really cares about are initial sales and then milking the game as hard as they can post-release. Until the majority of people stop buying their games they're not going to change, and like it or not we're the vocal minority on this.
If I remember correctly even after all the angry comments on various forums and reddit that made them initially disable the lootboxes BF2 was still a top seller at release.
To me, it is EA who has the gambling problem - they're so addicted to adding MTs despite the fact that it's just lowering the popularity of the game. At first it was outrageous, now it's just sad and pathetic.
They're doing fine as far as I know. All EA really cares about are initial sales and then milking the game as hard as they can post-release. Until the majority of people stop buying their games they're not going to change, and like it or not we're the vocal minority on this.
If I remember correctly even after all the angry comments on various forums and reddit that made them initially disable the lootboxes BF2 was still a top seller at release.
XP-200
Senior Member
Posts: 4396
Joined: 2003-04-05
Senior Member
Posts: 4396
Joined: 2003-04-05
#5538373 Posted on: 04/17/2018 01:22 PM
I am so happy i steer clear of touching games at launch, nice to sit safe on the sidelines and watch the ensuing mess unfold. lol
I am so happy i steer clear of touching games at launch, nice to sit safe on the sidelines and watch the ensuing mess unfold. lol
KissSh0t
Senior Member
Posts: 6057
Joined: 2011-10-22
Senior Member
Posts: 6057
Joined: 2011-10-22
#5538389 Posted on: 04/17/2018 02:26 PM
Turning Players into Payers.
Turning Players into Payers.
sammarbella
Senior Member
Posts: 3870
Joined: 2014-12-09
Senior Member
Posts: 3870
Joined: 2014-12-09
#5538391 Posted on: 04/17/2018 02:40 PM
EA can't help himself, there is simply too much money at stake...
...and too many dumbs ready to buy the
EA can't help himself, there is simply too much money at stake...
...and too many dumbs ready to buy the
pink Darth Vader skin
!
The Laughing Ma
Senior Member
Posts: 3517
Joined: 2008-04-12
Senior Member
Posts: 3517
Joined: 2008-04-12
#5538432 Posted on: 04/17/2018 04:20 PM
The issue is that as the whole MT gambling / lootbox thing in SWBF2 was starting to blow up EA actually said to it's investors that turning off lootboxes won't hurt their profits
https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-tells-investors-turning-off-battlefront-2s-microtransactions-will-not-affect-earnings/
It confuses me it really does, I make a decent product based on a long loved fandom and release it at a decent price and I know that if I sell it at a decent price I'll make money, in facts lots of money. Now because I have been drinking rather heavily for the last three years I opt to smear this product in shit and then charge my customers an extra fee for this. I know that doing this won't make me any more money but I opt to do this anyway. Seriously did no one at EA even think for a second that doing something that is only going to piss people off and in EA's own words 'won't make them any more profit' was a massively bad idea?
The issue for EA here though is that vocal minority made enough noise to start getting governments looking at the legal standing on lootboxes, the ESRB actually changed their rating system based on it (a milk toast and utterly pointless and worthless change but a change all the same) they made enough noise that the house of mouse actually started to look in to it with rumours being that Disney forced EA to remove them due to the backlash and it would seem that developers themselves are now starting to distance themselves from lootboxes as a whole, Shadow of War just announcing it plans to remove them and EA themselves are now having to reconsider having lootboxes in Anthem (which we know fine well would have been lootboxed to the hilt had it released last year.) The big indicator of weather it has had an effect is what happens with the next FIFA game, this game has had this similar pay to win / lootbox mechanic for the last few years and seems to have gone pretty much under the radar, it will be interesting to see if it has a similar pay to win mechanic with the next FIFIA game
I agree - cosmetic MTs aren't that bad. But context plays a role here. In a lot of games, cosmetic MTs are mostly just there so people can show their enthusiasm for the game - it gives them a little flare while the devs get some bonus cash. It's important to distinguish that in most of these cases, the devs don't depend on these MTs for revenue. But considering how hard EA has been pushing MTs, it just looks like they're begging "please give us money, this game has a lot of debt to pay off".
The issue is that as the whole MT gambling / lootbox thing in SWBF2 was starting to blow up EA actually said to it's investors that turning off lootboxes won't hurt their profits
https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-tells-investors-turning-off-battlefront-2s-microtransactions-will-not-affect-earnings/
It confuses me it really does, I make a decent product based on a long loved fandom and release it at a decent price and I know that if I sell it at a decent price I'll make money, in facts lots of money. Now because I have been drinking rather heavily for the last three years I opt to smear this product in shit and then charge my customers an extra fee for this. I know that doing this won't make me any more money but I opt to do this anyway. Seriously did no one at EA even think for a second that doing something that is only going to piss people off and in EA's own words 'won't make them any more profit' was a massively bad idea?
They're doing fine as far as I know. All EA really cares about are initial sales and then milking the game as hard as they can post-release. Until the majority of people stop buying their games they're not going to change, and like it or not we're the vocal minority on this.
The issue for EA here though is that vocal minority made enough noise to start getting governments looking at the legal standing on lootboxes, the ESRB actually changed their rating system based on it (a milk toast and utterly pointless and worthless change but a change all the same) they made enough noise that the house of mouse actually started to look in to it with rumours being that Disney forced EA to remove them due to the backlash and it would seem that developers themselves are now starting to distance themselves from lootboxes as a whole, Shadow of War just announcing it plans to remove them and EA themselves are now having to reconsider having lootboxes in Anthem (which we know fine well would have been lootboxed to the hilt had it released last year.) The big indicator of weather it has had an effect is what happens with the next FIFA game, this game has had this similar pay to win / lootbox mechanic for the last few years and seems to have gone pretty much under the radar, it will be interesting to see if it has a similar pay to win mechanic with the next FIFIA game
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Where's the pink darth vader?