It’s no fun being hung by your ankles and shaken for every dime you’ve got. Kind of ruins the vibe of the game
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Well I’m responding to the question of “why is 343 monetizing cosmetics so heavily” and that is why.
You or I would gladly pay $60 for a new halo game but the problem is that we are an old audience and a new audience needs to be brought in. To kids these days, halo is a “slow, boring, boomer shooter”. Even though those labels are completely false, it doesn’t matter. What matters is that’s what younger audiences THINK and when they think that, they aren’t going to drop 60 to get in on the experience.
So you go free to play and you monetize cosmetics.
Now do I think customization can be improved? Yes (allow mixing and matching of pieces, don’t force kids to be stuck together. Make progression more tied to in game outcomes (like medals).
But IMO more important issues need resolving before cosmetics and progression (more maps and modes, more playlists, server region selection, player collision, friendly fire, fixed custom games and theatre).
But that doesn’t answer my original question.
This is a question I’ve asked a few times and I’ve never seen anyone provide a good answer.
If none of this stuff matters, why is it so expensive and why is it front and center?
You can do microtransactions without making them aggressive and manipulative.
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Well you said that in response to.
And my response above addresses that. Maybe it would have been better if I replied to the person you quoted but I figured this way it responds to both people.
The response is - if 343 wants to go f2p - and I’ve briefly explained why that might be - and they don’t want pay2win MTX then what monetization options do they have besides cosmetics? That’s why the cosmetics are monetized.
It’s definitely not “front and center” as you can navigate into and between all game modes without even seeing the store so I strongly disagree there. Honestly I find that front and center assertion a bit comical because HI’s menus are so bad it took me a while to even figure out how to get to the battle pass and find the store in comparison to how easy it was to play the game.
For f2p models it’s actually not very expensive relative to other games. In absolute terms, if you figure the average person probably really only has one armor set they wear then even if they do spend $20 then what else are they going to spend on after? (do people REALLY customize Spartans continuously because all the new configurations they have are their favourite or is it because it’s the best configuration they can make so far?)
On top of that, game development is expensive and 343 needs to make a profit anyhow. Those prices were put in place after some analysis (be it wrong or right) and those are the numbers that came out.
I don’t think it’s predatory. 343 has to be consistently pulling tricks like this to earn that title imo.
This is representative of the issues that’ll lead to stagnation and decline.
Yet people want to whine about optional progression in a free to play game.
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Psychology was added to game design in a never ending battle to keep players perpetually engaged.
You’d have to be blind not to see the diminishing value of the overall game juxtaposed to the ridiculously exorbitant prices—and abundance of paywalled content—in the digital store. Customisation has been an integral part of the Halo multiplayer experience since 2007, so it’s pretty transparent to see people claim that it’s “not important” now when they were perfectly fine with it in Halo 3 through to Halo 5. As a matter of fact, one of the biggest complaints about Halo 5 was its lacking customisation options. Apparently that’s fine in Infinite though, so long as the gameplay (which has its own bevy of issues, but that’s a different discussion) is good.
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You’re responding to an argument I haven’t made though. I’ve never once said I’m opposed to games having microtransactions, what I’ve said is that they don’t have to resort to such aggressive monetization.
Well you can disagree if you want to and find it comical if you want to but, looking at the main menu screen right now I have 3 gateways to spending money (not including the campaign), the same number of menu items for actually playing the game (again not including the campaign). I would call that front and center, if you don’t then ok, but I do hence why I’m saying that and hence why I think it’s a problem.
So one instance of something can’t be called that? If I win a race I can’t be called a winner? If I murder someone I can’t be called a murderer? These things are absolute, there is no prerequisite for a number of occurrences beyond 1 instance.
Really?
Does that not imply you see an issue with halo being free to play? Free to play means microtransactions, does it not? Am I mistaken?
So aren’t you asking here why cosmetics are exclusively being monetized through microtransactions? You said nobody can answer that but that’s what I’m trying to do.
No you don’t?
When you load in the cursor highlight campaign. Below it are “multiplayer”, “academy”, “custom game”. 4 options all to jump directly into the game - already highlighted and the largest text on screen. On the top you have play, customize, community, and shop. Only 1 of those is for spending money and it is much smaller (maybe 1/2 to 1/3 the size) than the play menu options. Furthermore you can’t get there by moving your thumsticks. Finally you have news and battle pass. Neither of these take you screens to spend money (maybe battle pass if you continue to click through the menus).
So on the main screen you have 3 (4 if you you include campaign) large, prehighlighted options to play the game, and 1 to spend money.
Literally 300% more options plus less resistance to play compared to spend. 1/9 icons/buttons on the main screen to spend money. Not ONLY that but to spend money you have to tab the FURTHEST to the right to access the store (even more inconvenient). Don’t make **** up.
At this point I honestly don’t know if you are just deliberately misunderstanding and still haven’t actually provided an answer to the questions that I’ve asked so I think it’s better we just agree to disagree.
It is to some players and it’s not to others but that’s the only monetization option while free to play. I don’t see what isn’t being answered by my previous posts?
Understand that I’m not trying to discuss this in bad faith.
Fair point. But uh we aren’t really in one of those EA situations. This is 343’s first attempt at a f2p game and we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Probably just gauging what prices consumers are comfortable with paying for store items and stuff like that.
A teeny tiny benefit mind you. I don’t like business models like this anymore than you do.
I love to play halo, it is a fun game you are right. But a big part of it for me is about grinding and getting that skin that is super hard to get and customizing my spartan. But when its blocked behind a pay wall, or i gotta wait till next week to get some challenges then it takes away the fun for me. Yeah I can play for fun. but at the end, if I dont have a goal, a reason to play. Why would I play other then fun.
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Exactly! I haven’t spent a single penny (although I am planning to buy a few things), and I am having so much fun on it.
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I wish people would talk about the gameplay issues still instead of the customization problems. The progression and customization does suck but I agree, it’s just cosmetics. I’d really rather they address the big gameplay problems first, like the server tick rate and getting shot around corners, the tiny useless radar, the issues with vehicles physics, the excessive rnage of the AR, etc.
For me it’s about the prestige of unlocking an armor that is a display of a feat of skill or dedication, but it’s nonexistent. Players only see armor and think, “they’ve got a wallet.” Armor shouldn’t boil down to who spent what in halo. Where’s the inheritor haunted helmet as a display of dedication, etc.
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Saying “The Game is free” is the worse excuse ever.
Halo cosmetics are a staple of Halo. Being able to earn those pieces via achievements, challenges, leveling, and events.
I rather pay $60–$70 for the game with the multiplayer and earned those armor pieces by completing levels/ achievements rather than paying $20 for a single suit, let alone a color scheme.
For some odd reasons people seem to have forgotten that is how things were earned in games before heavy monetization (there were things before but not like this).
The Battle Pass has ruined the gaming experience. Gaming has never been just about “playing the game”. It was about immersing yourself into that world, which is why people love earning (not buying) those cosmetics.
It’s just not about PvP, it’s showing off things you have earned not bought.
Just because a game is free doesn’t make it great or make it immune to criticism about monetization.
Especially after dealing with those issues in a previous game and else where in gaming history.
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You know, I finally caved and bought the Tenrai bundle and sword waist accessories.
And I don’t regret it. The amount of hate mail I have received is far more entertaining than a night at the movies for two. I feel I’ve gotten my values worth from just that.
Plus, I look different than everyone else. And that’s all we wanted.