Gaming

It’s less that they’re easy to get without buying them with real money and more that they’re supposed to be acquired slowly and, when relevant, used sparingly.

My frustration with the discourse is that so many who see the game’s general lack of convenience see that through the filter of these microtransactions and assume ill intent on part of the actual game design when really it’s just genuinely idiosyncratic like the original was.

The truth is, if you’re the sort to be tempted by these purchases in the first place then you’re not the sort of person who would enjoy the game even if you do buy them. I don’t know whether that makes them better or worse, honestly, but if you buy the game it at least doesn’t rub your nose in them like Assassin’s Creed.

the consensus I’ve gotten is that the MTXs are largely meaningless because they’re so easy to get in-game

I would push back on this a bit. Some of these items are easy to acquire small quantities of, but are not available in infinite amounts, such as (as far as I know) the fast travel tokens. I am 20-ish hours in, and I think I have 8 fast travel tokens, which means that I really just don't use them, and hoard them for emergencies.

Convenience is addictive, and people absolutely will have trouble not pouring tens or hundreds of dollars into MTX once they get a taste of the convenience it offers. Ask ESO users how many don't have ESO Plus; it's incredibly common to have, because it gives you free fast travel and a dedicated, infinite inventory for crafting materials. It's weaponized convenience.

Other items in DD2 I've used CheatEngine to dupe, but I think most people (and obviously, no one on console) aren't going to be able to figure out hex editors, and shouldn't have to.

I'm less upset by what the MTX is or that it's there in a seventy dollar single player game, than I am that they did not disclose it would even have MTX until the day it launched.

If it has been known before hand, I wouldn't have really cared too much. RE4 has the same kind of MTX, it does not affect the game, but it was also known before launch that it would have it.

I am against MTX because they have put parents in debt when their children have racked up huge MTX bills and it's very difficult/impossible to get refunds. Yes, parents can protect themselves against this but many parents are not particularly tech savvy and games companies will see these as potentially huge revenue streams and abuse the hell out of them... like EPIC did.

Also, gaming addicts should also be considered and potential routes to indebtedness avoided.

Knowing a game has MTX just makes me less likely to buy it. Price the game correctly in the first place, and offer DLCs if you want some extra revenue.

The whole thing is a storm in a teacup. I’m level 40 in the game and have not once felt the need to even LOOK at the MTX store. The game is complete; the MTX are there if you’re too lazy to be bothered using the in-game travel mechanics. Simple as that.

This isn't microtransactions as they are usually implemented.

You have access to all of the content in the game for the sticker price, and that's all that matters to me.

If the mtx is meaningless because you can get it easily in game, then it is predatory as it is intended to be purchased by people who are not aware that they can earn it in game. That strikes me as worse than mtx that is required to do something they can't without it, because it preys on people's lack of information and they aren't making an informed choice.

Hate it hate it. This game is so good, and it's like I'm playing my old favorite again. The fact that they marred my baby with MTX like this is just gross. DD1 should be more popular, and what they did to DD2 may keep it from being the powerhouse it could because people will see the "mixed" ratings and second guess. Or they'll open the store page and see a wall of MTX and get the wrong idea.

But that's just part of it of course. If this works for them, it'll explode. And it will work for them. And everyone will get these fucking MTX in their full priced AAA games. And then once sales on MTX aren't up to snuff -- or if they are up to snuff, but in a few quarters when sales are merely consistent rather than continuing to grow -- they'll start pushing it. Just like they did with Shadow of Mordor where the gameplay gave you a nasty grind and a quick "buy your way past it" option.

I'll never buy the "it doesn't effect you in a single player game" argument. It will, because the market incentives a worse experience for those less willing to buy in.

As far as I've heard, previous Capcom games already feature these types of mostly meaningless DLC. So it's not a first test, and so far the older games haven't been adjusted to make the microtransactions more appealing.

I agree, Capcom aren't dumb, it's probably just a minimal amount of work, and if they can get even a few buyers they make money. Although, who knows if the hit to their reputations negates all of this.

It's the same type of microtransactions that they had in Resident Evil 4 Remake, so it's probably not so much a test as a limit they found where backlash is small enough that it still makes sense. But there are 2 big differences with Dragon's Dogma 2.

1. They fucked up the PC port.
2. They increased the base game price.

Anyone that tries to justify microtransactions in a paid game is a moron. They were literally introduced in free to play games to finance the game development. In paid game, it's just pure greed.