Okay, when you say “back then”, how long ago exactly that means? Given “back then” for my type of people are when youtube was pretty much just full of short vine type videos. Otherwise we could be talking about years when the microtransaction “discussions” started, otherwise if its much newer then its just basically same thing as what has been going for years, this discussion has lived for years without the help needed to get started from some videos though perhaps videos partly revitalize or spread the discussion.
And there definitely were complaints about map packs separating the communities when they were implemented in the very beginning even. So I dont really get that generalization of what gaming communities thought possibly based on individual experiences from perhaps a group of familiar people? Just stating the obvious and saying gaming community is not a singular entity which discussions are known to each member of the group like some hive mind.
As for the third section, im not really going to start defending map packs like that section seems to bait like one should belong in one category or the other where one side supports other microtransactions and other map packs, I support neither in a fully priced games.
As to “microtransactions not affecting gameplay” is true for such microtransactions as cosmetic items but there also are such things as for example, weapons in some packs put behind a paywall that in some cases give advantage for a paying player. Im not sure as to what your view is on those microtransactions are but given the part in the second section about you not caring about anything else but map packs, it just seems at least like heavy implication of supporting even imbalancing microtransactions.
Also, “free DLC” part I will get on about later but first, the fourth and final section of your topic.
So, were I there “back then” during when map packs raised their filthy heads? If it wasnt cleared from earlier writings I clarify it and simply say yes.
Does it bother me that someone else is spending their money? Not really, but the problem is that such behavior has an effect on the gaming industry itself. So, with first extra content the intent could have been to add content to an existing game which required less work with less profit, this thought means the content wasn’t even thought to be in the game on the first place. Other explanation could be that companies could have tested waters whether gaming communities (at least majority) would accept these “extra payments” in such a manner that gained profits could overcome the lost playerbase. Anyway, intentions are just speculations so I leave that there.
So, after a while when “extra payments” have become a norm, some companies get greedier and start adding more microtransactions, its a business afterall, but how exactly would they encourage players to buy these “extra products”? Well, there are quite many options for that. As examples I could mention thigs as, artificial grinding to promote “timesaver packs” which in itself include the more infamous RNG stuff, next could be a thing called “day 1 DLC” which basically means aspects/stuff that was ready before the game was ready but it was just decided that it should be sold separately from a supposedly finished fully priced game. Then how about adding some rushed development to simply get the barely (if even that) working product to the market so the microtransactions can be sprinkled on it earlier, like, what does it matter? It can be patched months later, right? Those players playing a broken game at launch dont matter, they are just (bug/beta)testing the game for us for free, dont worry about it. They already gave us the money, even before the release to get this virtual piece of equipment!
So basically, the price of this “free” DLC as you put it, is the ruination of the industry itself which likely will shoot itself on the leg at some point.
And I believe that will answer the remaining question whether I hate microtransactions and why aswell.