MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transactions

[Beelzebot44]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

"No microtransactions" seems incredibly misleading considering they still are in the game, just not directly in RTTS. This article is very misleading and if I just saw the headline (here on OS or on the actual site) I would think they're actually removed completely, but they're not.

They're not even removed from RTTS. If anything there's more incentive for them there now.

[tyler289]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

It is not misleading, read past the headlines. They clearly explain it is no longer tied to progression, since games like NBA2K as well as Battlefront 2 received a lot of flack for that, and for good reason. This was the right thing to do.

They are not going to completely remove them. The monetization in other areas that do not cause problems in offline play or other modes helps us in the long run as gamers. It keeps the budget funded every year, especially in a baseball gaming market that is very niche now compared to other sports games.

I'm saying the article/overall media covering this is really kind of misleading, the headlines/posts say "MLB18 removes microtransactions," but they're still in the game. I don't expect MLB18 to remove them by any means, but people are patting them on the back when they haven't really done anything special.

Like this writer basically is just feeding Russell talking points, fine. It's just a disservice to your reader to have a headline (and even copy) that says micotransactions are removed, but they're actually not, at all.

[Woodweaver]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

I don't get this as a counter argument.

The micro transactions have always been optional and unnecessary. You could reach all 99's without ever spending a single stub, just by grinding away earning training points by playing.

Buying training points with stubs was an optional way to improve your RTTS player.

Buying equipment with stubs was/is an optional way to improve your RTTS player.

I don't get the differentiation. Just based on the info we have so far I would say that now people are actually more likely to use the micro transactions in order to get the good equipment to help them compensate for the caps. Though they will never tell us I would probably bet that more Stubs are spent by RTTS players in MLB 18 than there was in MLB 17.

I don't care either way but it just seems strange that they are touting no micro-transactions because they removed some optional micro transactions and left another optional micro transaction in the game.

And of course the insidious/cynical view is that all the people who do use stubs to buy equipment will need to do so again next year when they carry their player over because they will lose all of the equipment.

Oh, and lastly let's not praise them too much. Why did they remove micro transactions that allow you to buy training points? Because they removed training points. All they did was not replace the micro transactions that were made obsolete by the new advancement system

The vast majority of micro-transactions in RTTS were purchasing training points. We certainly could have designed a system to maximize these transactions, but we did the opposite. That was what was being pointed out.

They only reason equipment was brought up was because some folks were concerned that (without having even tried the new progression system) they would not enjoy RTTS without having a player with 99's across the board. The equipment is occasionally handed out for free or can be purchased with earned stubs without spending a dime.

There was no intent to be misleading or to "lie". If you feel that was the case, at least you found out now and can make your decisions accordingly.

[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

I'm saying the article/overall media covering this is really kind of misleading, the headlines/posts say "MLB18 removes microtransactions," but they're still in the game. I don't expect MLB18 to remove them by any means, but people are patting them on the back when they haven't really done anything special.

Like this writer basically is just feeding Russell talking points, fine. It's just a disservice to your reader to have a headline (and even copy) that says micotransactions are removed, but they're actually not, at all.

I see what you are saying about the games media. They have always been that way in general. Like an extension to PR so to speak.

As for why they (SDS) should at least get some positive feedback for this decision, is due to what Woodweaver mentioned bellow...

Because if this were Take 2 or EA, they sure as **** would have expanded on it, and made it far more intrusive and 'gotcha' to nickel and dime players. Especially in the current GaaS environment gaming is shrouded in.

The vast majority of micro-transactions in RTTS were purchasing training points. We certainly could have designed a system to maximize these transactions, but we did the opposite. That was what was being pointed out.

They only reason equipment was brought up was because some folks were concerned that (without having even tried the new progression system) they would not enjoy RTTS without having a player with 99's across the board. The equipment is occasionally handed out for free or can be purchased with earned stubs without spending a dime.

There was no intent to be misleading or to "lie". If you feel that was the case, at least you found out now and can make your decisions accordingly.

[MetsFan16]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

The vast majority of micro-transactions in RTTS were purchasing training points. We certainly could have designed a system to maximize these transactions, but we did the opposite. That was what was being pointed out.

They only reason equipment was brought up was because some folks were concerned that (without having even tried the new progression system) they would not enjoy RTTS without having a player with 99's across the board. The equipment is occasionally handed out for free or can be purchased with earned stubs without spending a dime.

There was no intent to be misleading or to "lie". If you feel that was the case, at least you found out now and can make your decisions accordingly.

Exactly what I was talking about earlier in thread.

SDS isn’t misleading. It’s everyone else who says “well I NEED equipment so i can be a good player so in essence I NEED to buy all diamond equipment, that’s gonna be expensive and will lead to micro transactions!”

No, SDS is simply saying, you don’t need to make a transaction to increase your attributes. You just have to play the game.


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[EnigmaNemesis]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

Exactly what I was talking about earlier in thread.

SDS isn’t misleading. It’s everyone else who says “well I NEED equipment so i can be a good player so in essence I NEED to buy all diamond equipment, that’s gonna be expensive and will lead to micro transactions!”

No, SDS is simply saying, you don’t need to make a transaction to increase your attributes. You just have to play the game.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

The fact that there is a lot of people out there, who are scarily conditioned to think they need to buy stuff in game, they just need to have those items in order to 'be good' or whatever the reason, even when you point it out, no, you just play the game... (and in their defense, some were too young to remember gaming before MTX, so they are a product of the current gaming environment)

Makes me applaud this decision even more. Reason being is that you have some people psychologically conditioned to thinking they need to micro-spend on top of $60MSRP, and it is ripe to take advantage of. They chose the ethical high ground, where as others would not have been so thoughtful to the player-base and fans. They leave the MTX as optional for those who partake in that meta side of the game. And that is a good thing.

I for one would be more apt to spend a few bucks here and there for card packs, knowing it is not forced into the entire structure of the game. If it is forced upon me (like EA did with BF2 before the whole debacle) I will avoid the game full stop. No matter how much of a fan I am of a certain IP or franchise.

Funny thing is, us old timers said this would happen the very minute Oblivion ushered in the $2.50 Horse Armor, called it a slippery slope, and we were all hand waved at, and told to take off the tin foil hat.

[MetsFan16]

Re: MLB The Show 18 Interview - Online Play, Gameplay Improvements, No Micro Transact

The fact that there is a lot of people out there, who are scarily conditioned to think they need to buy stuff in game, they just need to have those items in order to 'be good' or whatever the reason, even when you point it out, no, you just play the game... (and in their defense, some were too young to remember gaming before MTX, so they are a product of the current gaming environment)

Makes me applaud this decision even more. Reason being is that you have some people psychologically conditioned to thinking they need to micro-spend on top of $60MSRP, and it is ripe to take advantage of. They chose the ethical high ground, where as others would not have been so thoughtful to the player-base and fans. They leave the MTX as optional for those who partake in that meta side of the game. And that is a good thing.

I for one would be more apt to spend a few bucks here and there for card packs, knowing it is not forced into the entire structure of the game. If it is forced upon me (like EA did with BF2 before the whole debacle) I will avoid the game full stop. No matter how much of a fan I am of a certain IP or franchise.

Funny thing is, us old timers said this would happen the very minute Oblivion ushered in the $2.50 Horse Armor, called it a slippery slope, and we were all hand waved at, and told to take off the tin foil hat.

Right and it’s a shame other companies have taking that route and built their entire structure around the mindset of those gamers who feel the need to spend money (Not dismissing the business aspect because they are still in the business of making the most money possible and these transactions increase revenues immensely).

But that’s why we should be applauding SDS for turning it around on other companies and choosing the path they did that rewards playing the game over any monetary means.




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