28 replies to this topic

[Diablobo]

Have you guys seen the new South Park? They are making fun of freemium games in the newest episode, but as usual, they have a fairly serious implication.

Spoiler Alert!!

I thought it was hilarious that the bad guy in the episode was the Canadian Devil, Beezelbutt.

When they were talking about how the small minority of users of a freemium business model are the chief source of revenue, it got me thinking about how much some of us have spent on this game, myself included. I'm not sure of the exact amount, but if you add up the Phoenix Overlord, Masakari and Man O'War packages that I purchased, that adds up to $440 right there. Then I have spent probably another couple of hundred in Hero mechs and premium time purchases. That's some serious money.

Now I don't have a problem with spending that much because I get so much value out of those purchases. Unlike many gamers, I pretty much play only one game, and that is this one for the last two years. If you break it down in terms of money spent divided by hours of entertainment provided, it comes out as a pretty good deal. Plus, even though I dislike many of the things done by the devs, I wish to encourage and support them, and the best way to do that is financially. I think they are headed in the right direction even though they have had some missteps.

Anyway, I just thought it was especially hilarious that South Park's villian in the new episode was Canadian and freemium was the key to the evil plan. As everyone knows, PGI is a Canadian company, and MWO is a freemium game.

Could Russ actually be Beezelbutt? Hmmmmm.....

[Joseph Mallan]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 07:34 AM, said:

Could Russ actually be Beezelbutt? Hmmmmm.....

[Diablobo]

Joseph Mallan, on 07 November 2014 - 07:39 AM, said:

No, no...

That's the dude from Legend. He is way too badass to be the Canadian Devil.

[Joseph Mallan]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

No, no...

That's the dude from Legend. He is way too badass to be the Canadian Devil.

Canadian or not a devil should always be badass.

Also... Why are we paying more than 40 cents at a time? Do you guys misunderstand the word "Micro" as well as "double"

Edited by Joseph Mallan, 07 November 2014 - 07:49 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

No, no...

That's the dude from Legend. He is way too badass to be the Canadian Devil.

The Canadian Devil would like you to surrender your soul..... PLEASE.


or?

Edited by Bishop Steiner, 07 November 2014 - 07:46 AM.

[Fut]

Joseph Mallan, on 07 November 2014 - 07:44 AM, said:

Canadian or not a devil should always be badass.

Wait... Are you saying that my Devil is not a badass?
Them words implications are fighting words implications...

Edited by Fut, 07 November 2014 - 07:46 AM.

[Diablobo]

Maybe Matt and Trey play MWO.

[TexAce]

I saw the episode and died of laughter thinking of PGI, or should we better say IGP?

just waited for the devil to drop the "whale"-word

Edited by TexAss, 07 November 2014 - 08:01 AM.

[DaZur]

Canadian Devil ~ Not quite the same as it's North American iteration...

Image -> Case in Point.

[TexAce]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 07:42 AM, said:

No, no...

That's the dude from Legend. He is way too badass to be the Canadian Devil.

Acutally this is just the first part

later he explains how freemium REALLY works (by milking the whales, bcs 80% dont even pay, only the addicts do)

[Diablobo]

TexAss, on 07 November 2014 - 08:04 AM, said:

Acutally this is just the first part

later he explains how freemium REALLY works (by milking the whales, bcs 80% dont even pay, only the addicts do)

Yeah I know. This is the only clip I could find.

[Blakkstar]

The video is spot on, describing how psychology and gambling theory have taken over the gaming industry. There is really only a small nice of full retail titles where you can still just hand over your cash for a fun experience. MMOs obviously, but most AAA titles are now released as half a game, requiring DLC and/or micro-transactions for a complete experience.

You can thank piracy, the Agile software development model, the expectation that just about every game have some sort of persistent online component, development costs, and plenty of other reasons. But most of all it comes down to the bizarre human trait of masochistically enjoying the grind of trying to overcome artificial scarcity.

Basically the Architect's speech from the Matrix where he explains how humans couldn't deal with a utopian Matrix. Watch it again in the context of MMOs and it will seem eerily ahead of its time instead of the gobbledygook it seemed like in 2003.

[Iqfish]

OH NO YOU SUMMONED HIM




Now he will take your money by offering you evil pre-order packages!

MWO is so p2w! Or Pay to enjoy, however you want.


In all seriousness: PGI always did a great job at making MWO NOT P2W/P2E.
This is not farmville.

[Diablobo]

Iqfish, on 07 November 2014 - 08:29 AM, said:

OH NO YOU SUMMONED HIM




Now he will take your money by offering you evil pre-order packages!

MWO is so p2w! Or Pay to enjoy, however you want.


In all seriousness: PGI always did a great job at making MWO NOT P2W/P2E.
This is not farmville.

I was hoping someone would take Russ' face and put on that demon guy.

Bravo.

Edited by Diablobo, 07 November 2014 - 08:37 AM.

[cSand]

PGI isn't even close to the level of micro-transaction sh*t that you see from all those mobile games and other (much lower quality IMO) "freemium" games.

[Diablobo]

My name is just a coincidence....LOL

cSand, on 07 November 2014 - 08:40 AM, said:

PGI isn't even close to the level of micro-transaction sh*t that you see from all those mobile games and other (much lower quality IMO) "freemium" games.

Yeah, instead of micro-transactions, we have mega-transactions.

They've just upped the ante.

[cSand]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 08:42 AM, said:

My name is just a coincidence....LOL



Yeah, instead of micro-transactions, we have mega-transactions.

They've just upped the ante.

Nope.

EVvrything except heroes is available for free. And in fact, for you cheap bast*rds, PGI has been handing out pay content like candy

Edited by cSand, 07 November 2014 - 08:50 AM.

[Diablobo]

Joseph Mallan, on 07 November 2014 - 07:39 AM, said:

To heck with you Joseph!! ( It's not hell in Canada, it's Heck ala Dilbert's Phil from Heck. The Prince of Insufficient Light)

Now I have to watch Legend again. You've triggered my addiction to watching cheesy 80s scifi/fantasy.

<shakes fist and curses>

Edited by Diablobo, 07 November 2014 - 08:51 AM.

[Mothykins]

Diablobo, on 07 November 2014 - 08:48 AM, said:

To heck with you Joseph!! ( It's not hell in Canada, it's Heck ala Dilbert's Phil from Heck. The Prince of Insufficient Light)

Now I have to watch Legend again. You've triggered my addiction to watching cheesy 80s scifi/fantasy.

<shakes fist and curses>

Isn't watching that just an excuse to see Tom Cruise run around with no pants on?

[Diablobo]

Cavale, on 07 November 2014 - 08:54 AM, said:

Isn't watching that just an excuse to see Tom Cruise run around with no pants on?

I'm not attracted to guys, but if I was, he would definitely be one of them.

LOL about the running. It reminds me of how Tom Cruise runs in all his movies.

http://www.cracked.c...in-every-movie/