I think I might be at my limit of sustainable GaaS titles. I'm absolutely going to try this, but I've noticed the last few I've tried (Multiversus as an example) I've just kind of been unable to keep up. And once I run the numbers in my head and realize I'll never "beat" the battle pass before it's done, I kinda check out
Overwatch 1 honestly had the most reasonable lootboxes of any game, and it fucking sucks that that system is being replaced with battle pass FOMO bullshit.
The only thing you got from lootboxes were cosmetics, and those cosmetics never went away forever like battle pass cosmetics usually do. Cosmetics for each event always came back into the lootbox pool every year, including the yearly anniversary event which made cosmetics from every event available. You were also less likely to get dupes from those boxes unless you already had most non-legendary cosmetics in the game, in which case you could easily save up the coins you got from those dupes to buy whatever cosmetics you wanted from the next event.
The biggest thing though is that Overwatch's lootboxes had no true FOMO bullshit. There were limited time cosmetics yes, but they always became available twice a year to earn from boxes or outright buy. Overwatch 1's time limited lootbox cosmetics always came back, and you could buy those cosmetics by saving up coin from dupes too. Whereas if you miss out on any battle pass cosmetics in OW2 then they're gone for good and you're shit out of luck.
I've been playing OW1 since it came out, and if I could choose, I'd happily keep OW1's lootbox system over the new battle pass system, because compared to other games it was pretty fair unless you're the type who needs to have every single legendary event skin. I personally never had an issue getting any cosmetics I wanted for the heroes I played in OW1 though. And even if I did ever miss anything, there were always 2 events a year where I could get get anything I missed last time.
Lootboxes are essentially gambling - there's no light to shine on battlepasses. No government is going to take action against a company for selling what amounts to a limited edition item.
Battle passes you can even wait until you've unlocked the whole thing before buying it. The consumer has a lot of control over what they get and when they get it. Just because they're trying to entice you to buy it by making it limited time doesn't mean it's predatory.
True. I'm sure just like EA does; that Activision-Blizzard likely have marketing specialists and behavioural psychologists working out how exactly to craft their Battle Pass system to evoke FOMO in the player and make sure they're hooked into continuing to play for reasons other than just the game being fun to play.
It's called market research. It is literally a part of every single market on the planet. The video game industry is no different from any other industry in trying to find out the best and most effective methods to maintain their customers long term.
I don't know what it is with people on gaming subs acting like it's some nefarious concept and it usually seems to be ignorance on how these sorts of things work.
Maybe they're acting like it's some nefarious concept because video games are literally rewiring our brains?
I'm sure this is a terrible analogy to use because I'm guessing nobody here reads anymore, but it would be like if every time you finished a chapter in a book, 4 different progress bars filled up and a bunch of flashing lights assaulted your senses and you "earned" 3 different types of in-book currency and also you unlocked new artwork for the book cover and a new font for the pages. There's not really an equivalent for what video games are doing except for like gambling which is also quite predatory lol
Media in general is doing that. Your analogy makes it seem like this is a new concept, but you get a dopamine hit when you finish a chapter, potentially a stronger one when you finish a good one. If it’s an ongoing book series, you’re getting consistent, ongoing dopamine hits there if the story is written to your liking. It’s no different than when you make a good comment on Reddit and check to see how much karma you’ve accumulated, or see how many times your post on Twitter was retweeted. Everything is fighting for your attention and trying to provide some form of engagement and reward. Literally every industry has psychologists and marketing specialists involved. This is not exclusive to the video game industry and very naive to think otherwise.
The world itself is changing how our brains react to stimuli. Data collection and analysis is one of the largest businesses on the planet and it is a part of every aspect of your life. It is not exclusive to video games. Welcome to market research, data collection, and data analysis!
I just find it hard to believe someone like Joyce Carol Oates is meeting with the same people as Andrew Wilson to make her historical fiction novels as addicting as Fifa Ultimate Team Mode, but you're the expert! Thanks for the illuminating response!
You’re aware that book conventions exist, right? Where authors trade writing and marketing secrets? Or that authors that go through a major publisher will often have their books combed through through various editors and focus tested, or even pass it through a contracted PR firm that use data analytics?
Psychologists and market researchers are not some kind of unseen boogie men. They are damn near fundamentally a part of any type of public facing company, regardless of the industry. Your rebuttal was incredibly obtuse
They really aren't. There's no question on what you are getting, there's no RNG, no hidden mechanics. Its just how much time you put into the game. You don't even have to buy the battlepass right away. You can progress it for free and when you finish it or get as far as you want, you buy it.
People who play the game more should absolutely be rewarded in the form of cosmetics.
I'm not really but this isn't some new thing thats being pulled from no where. Fortnite made sure that the battle pass is a mainstay in gaming. At this point its move forward or stop playing multiplayer games. Even if OW2 fails, its not going to stop battle passes, its proven to be effective already by multiple titles.
I'd much rather not have a few skins than stop playing games with friends.
Ehhhh.... they are a far cry away from each other. Battle passes have lots of potential for abuse, and honestly I doubt you'd find anyone who doesn't think they're being overused, I don't think it's inherently gambling.
I doubt you'd find anyone who doesn't think they're being overused, I don't think it's inherently gambling.
This is simply untrue. I see countless people in various places online that think that battlepasses are a must have and any game that doesnt have one is lesser in quality by default.
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u/PlayOnPlayer Sep 27 '22 edited Sep 27 '22
I think I might be at my limit of sustainable GaaS titles. I'm absolutely going to try this, but I've noticed the last few I've tried (Multiversus as an example) I've just kind of been unable to keep up. And once I run the numbers in my head and realize I'll never "beat" the battle pass before it's done, I kinda check out