The economy is faring no better than a 3 legged cat chasing an invisible mouse across a frozen lake. I don’t know about your struggles to keep up, but I’m failing miserably. This makes choosing a new game to drop 50-60 bucks on a big decision.
If it weren’t for a buddy who loaned me his 360, I wouldn’t even be able to touch the games that keep charging extra for all that DLC. I’m starting to watch the titles fly by, followed by a tidal wave of pissing and moaning- one great orchestra of disappointment- from friends who keep paying for new maps and new levels that were barely worth the money.
Then I think of Fallout New Vegas… and how amazing it would’ve been if they’d really made it a co-op multiplayer game which they didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t? (This is where my inner voice becomes that of Eric Cartman. “But Mehhhhm, I want to travel around new vegaaaaas …and attack hapless caravans with my friends at my side… but MEEHHHHM DAMMITIWANTTOPLAYNEWVEGASWITHMYFREINDS!!)
But then I log into TF2. Yet again there’s a new, free update. Yet again there’s a new, free contest to enter. New modes of play, new maps, new items, none of which I “have” to pay for. And now? A store. So if I do ever strike it rich mining for oil in my backyard (whoops- I think I just struck the sewage pipe), I can purchase almost anything for the game that I want.
I know VALVe isn’t the first to allow people to purchase items for a game, but I like the way they’re doing this. If you DON’T purchase items, they can still drop for you in game. You can still get them through the trading system. You can still try to craft them. Meanwhile the game updates and maps still remain free, and the community can still become a permanent part of the game by creating content and participating in free events and contests.
I’ve heard a lot of people say it isn’t fair to make you purchase the game initially, then offer people the chance to buy things- but you don’t “have” to pay to get these items. (Wait, can KEYS for crates drop?) I admit this gives someone with a lot of cash the advantage of buying everything he wants right up front (greedy mothers…), meanwhile everyone else has to barter, craft, or wait for the drop, but the money from those who pay keeps the people who run the game interested in keeping it alive, which in turn gives us more to look forward to and participate in. If it’s still making money without forcing us pay for maps and updates, isn’t that a good balance? We create a map, they release it in a free update, we both win. They arrange a contest, we create stuff, it gets released for free into the game community- we both win. Making some extra bucks by allowing people to purchase what they want only gives the designers incentive to keep adding the free content, contests, videos (where’s the meet the pyro/medic videos..come on VALVe!) and all that other stuff that in turn keeps us involved- amirite? And it keeps new maps and game modes free for poor penniless bastards like myself!?
Now aside from comparing the issue of Blizzard’s Diablo 3 to VALVe’s HL3, What do you guys think about the way VALVe has kept this FPS alive? What do you think about the Mann Co. store? Do you think this system would work for other games that keep charging for meager DLC? 
Yeah the key thing is kind of whacked, but you can trade for them now at least. Problem is, most scrubs want your left Kidney for one.
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I just got some box drop that's locked. The only way to open it? Buy a gawd damn key from the store WTF is that bullshit?
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Other FPS'? It's really a matter of doing it organically over doing it in one fell swoop.
With TF2 hat's sort of slowly made there way in before valve dropped the Mann Co. store into our laps.
It could easily work in games like Call of Duty but you have to look at the disconnect between development and players. Robin Walker actually plays TF2 and talks to people. Could you say the same thing about something like Modern Warfare 2 or Black Ops?
I'm sure they could do it, but it requires a lot of tweaking. Balancing weapons, adding cosmetic items, things equivalent to 'hats'.
TF2 managed to create an entire in game economy based on hats, weapons, and other things. It's genius really, and I think if developers from other companies wanted to do something similar they could.
It's whether or not it'll adhere to another community which determines if it'll be a success. A step in the right direction would be making FPS multilayer DLC free right across the board.
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Good point, I can understand it not being as viable for something non-multiplayer like New Vegas, but what about for other FPSs.
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TF2's microtransaction model is great. Allowing players to buy (most) things they wouldn't want to wait for or trade for all while not selling borderline-god items to players who are willing to shell out the cash.
The difference between TF2 and any other game adopting this model (for arguments sake let's say New Vegas) is the fact that TF2's store is constantly generating revenue, and their players are constantly active on a huge amount of servers.
Not to say a company like Bethesda doesn't have the money to launch free DLC like TF2 does or that they don't have enough players to do so, however there are incentives for Valve to release free DLC with TF2.
New content = More active players, new players, and the return of hiatus players
More players = More game sales and more $$ from the store.
Games like Fallout can't do that. Cut costs on a single player game (Fallout's $49.99 vs. TF2's $19.99 - steam store for both), and release free, regular, single player DLC.
Not that they shouldn't release free DLC, but I don't see it happening.
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The Annoucer is total Linda Hunt -
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001373/
That's who I've always visualized behind the voice
Oh and the sniper can be Matt Frewer
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001242/
(really his character in the show Eureka)
http://www.tvguide.com/news/ma...37450.aspx
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Man, if there was a live casting...
Bruce Willis = The Soldier
Hugh Laurie = The Spy
____ = The Scout (and I'd have my way with him)
____ = Some hot chick
Ving Rahmes or Samuel L. Jackson = Demo
Matthew Willig? = The Heavy
Burt from Tremors? = The Engineer
_____ = The Sniper
Dexter = The (Battle) Medic
_____ = The Announcer
Come on, help fill the list!
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I love the new store. I think its a great addition to the game. Trading things is an amazing feature that makes the game more fun for those who don't get to play very often. TF2 is an excellent game and I love that they keep it free, but also offer ways to purchase things if you don't have too much time on your hands. I think it benefits the company, and since the company is a good one, that benefits the players. Great article. Lol at the cat, Cartman, striking it rich, and House. 8p
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