Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

[Junior Moe]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Yes to the average consumer grinding sucks, I grinded until I was an 80 then i decided to buy 10 dollars worth of VC when there was a sale now I am a 87. The NBA season just started we are 14 game in so no i dont think it was been too long, do i think certain aspects of the game are a complete cash grab like hair cuts absolutely especially at release,i am glad the came to their senses and reduced it, but as you can see for al the complaints some people still paided because they made the choice to. I still see guys with 60 -70 ratings so there are people who have stucked by their principles and said no, if there were more people out there like them maybe things would be different. Going forwards this is how it will be not just for 2k but for all games, because more and more people are buying a NBA game and never playing a NBA game or MY GM or playing with any Legends teams so if 2k was really cash hungry they could cut off all the fat that alot of us old school guys appreciate and just go for the quick cash grab.

Exactly!!! This is a rehash of same conversation that was had right after the game released. People complaining about greed and being gouged and how unfair it was. It even affected the games score in some reviews. Well, 2 months in we know it's another success. So what if people decide to spend their money. For me, as long as the 60$ base game is worth that in my eyes everything else is extra. 2Ks MyLeague alone is worth my 60$ every year. But thats just me. Others have their own value scale. Apparently, playing 2K is worth the 60$ alone to many. Spending on VC evidently is worth it still judging from the numbers. I honestly do not see what people are crying about. I bought and beat AC: Origins. The game is great. If they released DLC today for 10$ or 15$ I'd buy easily. Even though I just spent 60$ on the game. What does it matter if it's content I want. If people want VC and they care to buy, rock on!

[mrchiggs]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Micro transactions are up, because every mode save for play now, is geared up to try to manipulate you into purchasing VC.

Sneakers costing 3 times what you make per game in Mycareer. Custom shoes costing 7000... now 10000. They know you want to wear them so they know its difficult to choose between those sneakers you want and paying to get your ratings up. Your inability to see a haircut on you before purchasing... Deciding not to allow people who bought the game to add custom rosters to Mycareer... Knowing when you first by the game in September, the game's rosters are trash. Most aren't going to wait to start their career... What ends up happening, is they start, the game updates with the beginning of the season... Most will restart their mycareer over. Thing is they not going to want to grind all over again, so... buy VC. It sounds roundabout but its evident the games limitations also boost VC sales. This is just a tiny portion... it goes on and on.

Corporations study us... we don't study them. They know what will get you to purchase VC or micro-transactions. most of you will still buy the game and the VC and it will only get worse. Its never going to get better. Not ever. Believe it will if you want. 10 years from now, 2K will be a service not a game you buy. it will be a monthly subscription. GTA is paving the way for lesser games and more micro-transactions. Now we see them everywhere... And its because we the people support them.

[mrchiggs]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Exactly!!! This is a rehash of same conversation that was had right after the game released. People complaining about greed and being gouged and how unfair it was. It even affected the games score in some reviews. Well, 2 months in we know it's another success. So what if people decide to spend their money. For me, as long as the 60$ base game is worth that in my eyes everything else is extra. 2Ks MyLeague alone is worth my 60$ every year. But thats just me. Others have their own value scale. Apparently, playing 2K is worth the 60$ alone to many. Spending on VC evidently is worth it still judging from the numbers. I honestly do not see what people are crying about. I bought and beat AC: Origins. The game is great. If they released DLC today for 10$ or 15$ I'd buy easily. Even though I just spent 60$ on the game. What does it matter if it's content I want. If people want VC and they care to buy, rock on!

AC Origins is a good example. They put a ton of content and detail into that game. The game has micro-transactions but the game isn't grindy in anyway shape or form. The items they have in the game are already dope and its not really geared toward manipulating you... yet.

See, Ubisoft was dealing with a struggling AC franchise and had to refresh it. took a year off and really worked to make the game similar to one of the best RPG, the witcher 3. The next AC game will likely fall back instep with manipulating people to buy Micro-transactions. But for now its a great game with MT's in it. 2K is centered around getting you to buy VC. Thats the issue. They even lowered the amount of VC per game. Literally making it more and more grindy to influence folks who already bought the game to by more and more vc. Race to 99... it costs 200k just to get to 85! And all the good sneakers are locked behind 85! LOL Manipulative. It costs like 1 million VC to reach 99.

[Junior Moe]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

AC Origins is a good example. They put a ton of content and detail into that game. The game has micro-transactions but the game isn't grindy in anyway shape or form. The items they have in the game are already dope and its not really geared toward manipulating you... yet.

See, Ubisoft was dealing with a struggling AC franchise and had to refresh it. took a year off and really worked to make the game similar to one of the best RPG, the witcher 3. The next AC game will likely fall back instep with manipulating people to buy Micro-transactions. But for now its a great game with MT's in it. 2K is centered around getting you to buy VC. Thats the issue. They even lowered the amount of VC per game. Literally making it more and more grindy to influence folks who already bought the game to by more and more vc. Race to 99... it costs 200k just to get to 85! And all the good sneakers are locked behind 85! LOL Manipulative. It costs like 1 million VC to reach 99.

Origins is a great example in more ways than one. For me, 2K is Origins every year. It's a great game that I get a lot of enjoyment out of even if there was no DLC/microtransactions. Those things just provide extra content/shortcuts SHOULD I want it. 2K puts a ton of content and detail into the game. Small things like driving with John Wall and him taking a spill. Gettin up and running grabbing his nose. Later I realize that he broke it. I realized all this just by visual glues and his mannerisms. There's a ton of stuff like that.

I'm content playing ML. Or play now games with classic teams. I'll even dabble in MC. I enjoyed 2K16 and 2K17's story for what they were worth. But since the story isn't as linear this year and I'm not feeling the "run here, do this objective" stuff I'm done with it. But it's there though if I'm bored one day and looking for something different.

In Origins there were times I went into areas significantly higher than my level. I got my a** destroyed. LOL! So, I just played and enjoyed the game and leveled up organically until I was able to survive in those higher areas. It didn't feel like "grinding". It was a fun experience. This is where I don't get the online gripes about 85's on day one. Just play until you can compete. Or take the shortcut and pay. I'm not sure if we could have bought our way to a higher level in AC, I didn't check, but I know there were things to buy. If we could, great. That's not an option I care to explore. But If there are people out here who want to be level 40 on day one, have at it. That's how I look at it with 2K.

[triplechin]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Origins is a great example in more ways than one. For me, 2K is Origins every year. It's a great game that I get a lot of enjoyment out of even if there was no DLC/microtransactions. Those things just provide extra content/shortcuts SHOULD I want it. 2K puts a ton of content and detail into the game. Small things like driving with John Wall and him taking a spill. Gettin up and running grabbing his nose. Later I realize that he broke it. I realized all this just by visual glues and his mannerisms. There's a ton of stuff like that.

I'm content playing ML. Or play now games with classic teams. I'll even dabble in MC. I enjoyed 2K16 and 2K17's story for what they were worth. But since the story isn't as linear this year and I'm not feeling the "run here, do this objective" stuff I'm done with it. But it's there though if I'm bored one day and looking for something different.

In Origins there were times I went into areas significantly higher than my level. I got my a** destroyed. LOL! So, I just played and enjoyed the game and leveled up organically until I was able to survive in those higher areas. It didn't feel like "grinding". It was a fun experience. This is where I don't get the online gripes about 85's on day one. Just play until you can compete. Or take the shortcut and pay. I'm not sure if we could have bought our way to a higher level in AC, I didn't check, but I know there were things to buy. If we could, great. That's not an option I care to explore. But If there are people out here who want to be level 40 on day one, have at it. That's how I look at it with 2K.

The issues are mainly with MyCareer/Park/ProAM in terms of microtransactions to the best of my knowledge (admittedly that is all I play). MyLeague and all that surely needs some attention but to the best of my knowledge those modes aren't being exploited yet. But ProAM/Park is an online competitive environment and playing as a low level for a significantly long time is unenjoyable to many many people. Earning your way up is ok but it is purposefully and artificially more of a grind so that they get people to buy extra VC. The game would not be designed the same way if there was no such thing as microtransactions, so I believe it is valid to complain.

In these modes being exploited, it takes an insanely long time to build up characters. You can't experience more than a few archetypes even if you wanted to. Now with 18, most people can barely handle one character. And it would have been worse without all the backlash that was started, which ultimately still did not change that much. I believe people should be concerned about these issues and continue giving bad press for it. What is going to happen when these micros leak into other game modes and you have to pay 5,000 VC to see John Wall's nosebleed?

AC:O is made to be enjoyed throughout the whole game. It is a singleplayer experience not a competitive online game against other real people. What if they made the tutorial last 20 hrs and the only way to skip would be to pay $20 for VC. That is what it feels like imo

[Junior Moe]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

The issues are mainly with MyCareer/Park/ProAM in terms of microtransactions to the best of my knowledge (admittedly that is all I play). MyLeague and all that surely needs some attention but to the best of my knowledge those modes aren't being exploited yet. But ProAM/Park is an online competitive environment and playing as a low level for a significantly long time is unenjoyable to many many people. Earning your way up is ok but it is purposefully and artificially more of a grind so that they get people to buy extra VC. The game would not be designed the same way if there was no such thing as microtransactions, so I believe it is valid to complain.

In these modes being exploited, it takes an insanely long time to build up characters. You can't experience more than a few archetypes even if you wanted to. Now with 18, most people can barely handle one character. And it would have been worse without all the backlash that was started, which ultimately still did not change that much. I believe people should be concerned about these issues and continue giving bad press for it. What is going to happen when these micros leak into other game modes and you have to pay 5,000 VC to see John Wall's nosebleed?

AC:O is made to be enjoyed throughout the whole game. It is a singleplayer experience not a competitive online game against other real people. What if they made the tutorial last 20 hrs and the only way to skip would be to pay $20 for VC. That is what it feels like imo

They were too aggressive with VC in MYGM in 2K14, IMO, with the always online stuff and having to use VC to change rotations. Even though it was cheap, it was the principle. We (myself included) raised hell and it was changed. I'm as big a fan of 2K's vision as the come but If they had made 50 million extra from the microtransactions in MyGM then they'd still be in there. And I wouldn't blame them. I wouldn't like it necessarily, as a gamer, but the capitalist in me understands it completely. Hell, each one of us would do the same with a smash successful product. That's how it works. I wouldn't look at that as being exploited. A product is only worth what you're willing to pay for it.

I call myself an idiot every month when I pay my cable bill. Truthfully, I could probably do without it. But I don't want to, so I pay. LOL. Even though it feels like it, I'm not being exploited because I ultimately decide to have it.

As for the grind, I get people not liking it. I get 2K making it taxing in an effort to spur VC purchases. I do. It's business, and it's effective. I can relate to your complaint as a gamer, but it doesn't make any sense anywhere else. You can (you might not like how long it takes, but you can...) level up in 2K the same as in Origins without spending a dime. You could enjoy playing the story and games in MC and level up as you go then get on and play with the 85s.

There is a line and with regard to how aggressive 2K could be with VC before turning people away. 2K may be dancing on that line. IDK. That line is different for everyone, though. And looking at the numbers being up this year I'm lead to believe that the sentiment expressed here and even twitter isn't the masses.

[aakaido]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

They were too aggressive with VC in MYGM in 2K14, IMO, with the always online stuff and having to use VC to change rotations. Even though it was cheap, it was the principle. We (myself included) raised hell and it was changed. I'm as big a fan of 2K's vision as the come but If they had made 50 million extra from the microtransactions in MyGM then they'd still be in there. And I wouldn't blame them. I wouldn't like it necessarily, as a gamer, but the capitalist in me understands it completely. Hell, each one of us would do the same with a smash successful product. That's how it works. I wouldn't look at that as being exploited. A product is only worth what you're willing to pay for it.

I call myself an idiot every month when I pay my cable bill. Truthfully, I could probably do without it. But I don't want to, so I pay. LOL. Even though it feels like it, I'm not being exploited because I ultimately decide to have it.

As for the grind, I get people not liking it. I get 2K making it taxing in an effort to spur VC purchases. I do. It's business, and it's effective. I can relate to your complaint as a gamer, but it doesn't make any sense anywhere else. You can (you might not like how long it takes, but you can...) level up in 2K the same as in Origins without spending a dime. You could enjoy playing the story and games in MC and level up as you go then get on and play with the 85s.

There is a line and with regard to how aggressive 2K could be with VC before turning people away. 2K may be dancing on that line. IDK. That line is different for everyone, though. And looking at the numbers being up this year I'm lead to believe that the sentiment expressed here and even twitter isn't the masses.

For me, that makes it worse. 2K has never been hurting for cash. Before they came up with vc, they were breaking sales records with each new game, year after year. The fact that they are not hurting for money and then find more ways to milk you for more money is just plain disgraceful. Capitalism is great until those who are sitting on top decide to add more crushing weight to those they are sitting on. In other words, continuing to be greedy and eating (charging us more for less) when you are already full (making record sales and already have more money than you knw what to do with).

Sent from my SM-G925T using Operation Sports mobile app

[jyoung]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

The process of "grinding" and the act of paying extra money to obtain gameplay advantages simply shouldn't exist in a competitive multiplayer game. The most popular esports (Counter-Strike, Overwatch, DotA, League of Legends, Street Fighter, Smash Bros, et al.) don't allow your bullets, spells, or fists to do more damage just because you spent $600 on the game compared to your opponent's $60, or you put in 500 hours of gameplay compared to your opponent's 50 hours.

But in NBA 2K18, your character can run faster, jump higher, dribble smoother, defend better, and shoot a higher percentage just because you spent more time and/or money leveling up a character than your opponent did.

That's not how competitive multiplayer games are supposed to work; the mental and physical skills of the person behind the controller are supposed to be the only possible factors that could give one person an advantage over the other. But 2K's design decisions show that their top priority this generation has not been to make a well-balanced competitive multiplayer game, it has been to make the most money possible off their consumers, even if that comes at the expense of gameplay balance and customer goodwill.

Even though I fundamentally disagreed with the process, I thought the "grind" of getting a MyPlayer to a competitive level of play was at least a tolerable annoyance in 2K17.

But 2K has tightened the leash around its consumers' necks so firmly in 2K18 that what was a "tolerable annoyance" last year has now become an "impossibly deep timesink."

In 2K17, I could start a MyPlayer's career at about a 70s overall with no badges and get him to a 95 overall with all of his badges maxed out in just a week or two of playing MyCareer, using only the VC that I was earning throughout the season.

In 2K18, badges are intentionally designed to be much tougher to max out, and we now have to perform glitches, buy VC, or play tons of high rollers Ante Up against the cheesiest portion of 2K's online community just to get enough VC to build more than one or two MyPlayers to a competitive level, because the rate at which you earn VC by playing the game normally is so much slower in 2K18 than it was in 2K17.

This year, your progress towards building a competitive MyPlayer can also be roadblocked by 2K's randomized attribute upgrade system if key stats like ball control or mid-range/three-point shooting don't max out until a character hits an absurdly high overall rating that would take hundreds of gameplay hours to reach.

2K18's dual archetype system has all of these interesting combinations to try out, but realistically, you're not going to be able to unlock the full potential of more than one or two characters per month, and that's if you play 2K18 for multiple hours, every single day of the week.

I would love for 2K18 to have an NHL 18 EASHL-style system, where everyone's MyPlayer is on a level playing field, and you can just pick your archetype and hop into a Pro Am or Park game with predetermined attributes and abilities. But unfortunately, 2K's desire to steal as much time and as many dollars as they can from their consumers is getting in the way of good multiplayer game design.

[Thunderhorse]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

My main gripe with the time sink falls in line with the concerns that you don't really get to try out other archetypes.

I really want to make a Slashing Defender, but I don't have time to grind the guy out to 85, and I honestly do not feel like 2K deserves the $50 to get there.

I'm not enjoying this game as much. I do think it still provides a much more solid multiplayer product than Madden, which is why despite the fact I watch nothing but football and very little basketball - I still only play 2K and loathe Madden's lack of fundamentals.

I paid a little money and made like 7 or 8 players in 17 but I felt like it was worth it. IIRC I probably made enough VC through park and mycareer to probably pay for 2 of my MyPlayers to get to 88, but I enjoyed the game enough to go ahead and invest more money for a different experience because it was rewarding.

This year's experience has just been exhausting and I cannot possibly see myself grinding another character to a 90 ovr. Even if I paid the $50 to get to 85 I don't think I'd want to deal with that. It's taken long enough to get to 92.

[11anthony]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Don't like microtransactions, don't do them. Nothing is locked behind microtransactions of real money, only VC, and you get VC for playing.

Why people complain about 'virtual currency' when it has been in every RPG ever made, I don't know.

A $60 game with a free to play model is OK with you?

I'm perfectly fine with MTX, but as long as it doesn't kills the players enjoyment. But 2K takes it an another level. Artificially lower the amount of VC rewards and increase the VC costs compared to past titles just to purposely incentives MTX or you'll end up grinding hundreds of hours to get where you want to be is nonsense.

[Nza]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

You can't have multiple mycareer's going in 2K18 without paying. Not realistically. Being able to switch between characters was a huge part of my enjoyment in mycareer and now it's effectively a lost feature. My experience playing 2K18 is considerably worse because of it. I doubt I'm alone.

[Thunderhorse]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

This whole idea that we have to "not have fun" for X amount of hours before we can actually enjoy the game on a level playing field is the absolute opposite of what video games should be.

Real life work/study/chores ARE the grind, and video games are supposed to be an escape from that grind, but here we are in 2017 where you can't just buy the game, choose your character type and jump into Park or Pro Am and compete with everyone else - where skill should be all that matters, not who has sunk the most money into the game or who has no life and spends 8 hours a day grinding boring and repetitive MyCareer games against terrible AI.

THIS is why a lot of people are pissed... I make good money but I refuse to pay any more on principle.

I've been spending most of my time playing Tekken 7 instead as I can just boot up the game, pick my character and go and the only limiting factor is practice and my knowledge. Whereas every time I boot up 2K this year there's this cloud of "this is going to feel like work" cast over everything.

Play Now Online has become my go-to mode as a result.

I still love this game and the experience it offers, but it is exhausting and my crew has suffered as a result; Guys have just dropped out like flies.

I used to think I had grown out of video games and sports were the last bastion, but I'm finding more and more that Madden's historical failures and now 2K's time sink are just not worth it and I'd rather go play Assassins Creed or something.

My profession has become more time consuming and will continue to be so, and I cannot find warrant within investing more time into 2K's time sink here. I make enough to buy whatever I want on this damn game, but it stopped being worth it this year.

[Nza]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

I still love this game and the experience it offers, but it is exhausting and my crew has suffered as a result; Guys have just dropped out like flies.

I used to think I had grown out of video games and sports were the last bastion, but I'm finding more and more that Madden's historical failures and now 2K's time sink are just not worth it and I'd rather go play Assassins Creed or something.

My profession has become more time consuming and will continue to be so, and I cannot find warrant within investing more time into 2K's time sink here. I make enough to buy whatever I want on this damn game, but it stopped being worth it this year.

I teamed up with some great players early on, randoms basically but we made a good crew who would mesh well in neighborhood games and there was usually someone on to join up with. Now they all play Fortnite.

[JayCutlersCig]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Admittedly, I skipped out on buying this year because of all the micro-transaction talk, and because of the existing caps on offline MyPlayer attributes.

Otherwise, I hold 2K in a positive light; they brought me one of, if not, the best football games I’ve ever played. Glad to see them flourishing and seeing EA go downhill. Ever since the exclusive license with the NFL, it seems like their reputation is tarnished.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[BA2929]

Re: Microtransactions up 57% from 2016 - Take Two Interactive

Admittedly, I skipped out on buying this year because of all the micro-transaction talk, and because of the existing caps on offline MyPlayer attributes.

Otherwise, I hold 2K in a positive light; they brought me one of, if not, the best football games I’ve ever played. Glad to see them flourishing and seeing EA go downhill. Ever since the exclusive license with the NFL, it seems like their reputation is tarnished.

EA makes FIFA, the most popular and highest selling sports game in the world.

I don't think they're going downhill just yet.