Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 35

IMO Micro-transactions cheapen a game!

Because people don't like MT's doesn't mean their opinion is old fashioned or not workable. It's not an evolutionary process to suddenly 'get MT's' and then embrace it and you don't grow up and realize that the principle of paying more is a good idea.

If you compare the value of 'all you can eat' vs a la carte, it's obvious where people see the value proposition and that's where we are now.

If you feel MT works, that's great, but given the history of some of these companies, I have little faith in their assurances, especially since there is cash to be made.

All this work against gold farmers, isn't for the good of the player, that's a byline on the whole, it's to clear the path for currency systems very similar to what SOE have done here. Interestingly Smed made a distinction as to what he said, based on who ended up benefiting from making money. The more I read of that guy, the less I like.

I don't like the term 'fluff' as it diminishes all those little part of a game that make it fun, personalized and immersive. If they are dismissing these type of items as fluff, it really exposes games for what they are, leveling treadmills, the type of the appearance they actively distance themselves from.

Let's not forget the biggest game in the world survives predominantly on a subscription model, so while companies want us to move over the micro payments, consumers in general want more value out of a subscription model, so they can determine if they are getting value.

These companies can not have their cake and eat it I'm afraid, and that's what's happening right now, they are pushing consumers hard on this so it becomes the norm. I don't see how this benefits players, unless the games are free to play. But take it from me, that's not going to happen, the rules have been set, and people now know you pay a $15 per month 'service charge' to enjoy a MMO. They won't turn their back on this cash cow.

MT is turning point for MMO gamers, and not an innovation led by players. The benefits of this system are at best negligible to subscribers.

Lotro doesn't interest me because...

- The PVP sucks
- Character models are ugly
- Nasty animations
- Combat feels off
- Boring races
- it loads as you go into buildings

etc etc.