Is Modern Gaming a Scam? (Reaction to ItsHawx)

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Modern gaming industry is plagued by excessive costs and lack of consumer agency.
  • - The industry faces issues like price hikes, lack of consumer control over games, and enormous investment costs.
  • - Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard revealed the exorbitant costs of game development and marketing, with games costing up to $1 billion to produce.
Live service games vs single player games and the associated challenges
  • - Developing and maintaining live service games like Sony and Warner Brothers are doing despite the success of single player games
  • - The financial challenges and sustainability issues with live service games and their marketing costs
Gaming content decreased while monetization increased
  • - Removal of free weekly rewards and introduction of premium currency
  • - Neglect of core playlist loot in favor of paid cosmetics
Modern gaming industry practices scrutinized
  • - Discussion on Bungie's controversial decisions
  • - Impact of loot box controversy on Battlefront 2 and gaming industry
Discussion on sports gaming and microtransactions
  • - Exploration of how sports games like FIFA attract dedicated players with rare player cards
  • - Debate on the acceptability of microtransactions, particularly those targeting kids
Modern gaming lacks cosmetic incentives
  • - The shift towards paywalls or difficult challenges for cosmetic rewards is impacting the gaming experience.
  • - Children are now bullying each other over having the latest gaming skins, reflecting a concerning trend.
Microtransactions and pre-orders exploit consumers
  • - Some games add battle passes on top of paid games, pushing players to make more in-game purchases.
  • - Pre-orders and special editions prey on consumer trust with added content and exclusivity.
Modern gaming features multiple tiers with added costs for early access and exclusive content
  • - Originally, special versions of games offered in-game gear, then access to closed betas, and now require extra payment for early access
  • - Players are now faced with paying extra for early access while others wait for delayed releases, indicating a shift towards monetization
Video game prices have not increased despite improvements in quality and development costs.
  • - Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is a favorite game, highlighting the nostalgia factor.
  • - Capcom stands out for maintaining quality amidst rising prices.
Challenges with game ownership and refunds in modern gaming.
  • - Regional pricing disparities lead to unfair costs for players with weaker currencies.
  • - Difficulties in obtaining refunds for unfinished or broken games on platforms like Steam and PlayStation.
Modern gaming industry facing challenges with microtransactions
  • - Microtransactions in video games causing backlash due to player dissatisfaction with added payment options
  • - Industry under pressure from shareholders leading to layoffs and instability in game development studios
High number of layoffs in the gaming industry causing distress
  • - Significant layoffs in the gaming industry in 2023 and early 2024, impacting thousands of developers.
  • - Developers facing exploitation and lack of compensation compared to CEO's lucrative earnings.
Support ethical gaming companies like Larian Studios and avoid rewarding negative behavior.
  • - Vote with your wallets by not supporting unethical practices in the gaming industry.
  • - Check out 'Death Must Die' on Steam, an Early Access game without microtransactions and highly entertaining.

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