Post by wannabepathfinder on Oct 26, 2017 0:06:06 GMT
Hello everyone, my first post. I joined the forum because I was working on an open letter to EA and Bioware. I figured I'd come here and share my thoughts first.
Open letter to EA/BioWare
Please add microtransactions to single-player games.
I am a gamer and an investor. As a gamer I want a rich, artistic, and high-fidelity game. As an investor I want to see robust cashflows.
The things I want to see as a gamer are expensive asks, I know. As a businessman, I see many missed opportunities to monetize the awesome franchises you have. We can bring these two things together to make everyone happy.
Rich, artistic and high-fidelity games require a lot of development time and top-notch writing as well as talented actors and actresses to really bring the characters to life. Part of the appeal of games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age is that the gamer can choose to play them however they like. There inlies one of the biggest opportunities to monetize single-player.
BioWare has long had crafting systems in their games. In fact, it was KOTOR that turned me on to RPG's to begin with, which also had a crafting system. Lots of players have been dissapointed by crafting systems lately, but I see this as a huge opportunity to make everyone happier.
Crafting systems require materials and mods. In most cases, players scavenge these digital consumables from in-game. I have no problem with that. However, for the sake of monetization, why not allow players to purchase crafting materials with real money, rather than just in-game money? As I mentioned before, part of the appeal of these games is the personal touch we can all put on our playthroughs. I like custom tailoring weapons and armor to my play-style and I actually spend a considerable amount of time on crafting activities. As the Pathfinder in ME:A I really enjoyed unlocking the Ghost and building one with a vintage heatsink. I liked making a Dhan that would drain some of my health as a Vanguard so that I could smash enemies and never reload. Would I pay a few extra dollars to craft more awesome in-game content? You bet I would!
Many other games have other point-systems such as ME3 with the Galactic Readiness, or DA:I with Influence, or ME:A with Andromeda Points. These devices are used to unlock in-game perks and/or influence the story. In ME3 the Galactic Readiness score encouraged players to play multiplayer, which was already monetized. To be completely honest I don't give a rat's ass about multiplayer. As an RPG gamer, it's not about interacting with other humans, it's about enjoying an intensely personal experience. Think of it like reading a good book. This is purely a single-player activity. These point systems could easily be monetized.
Let's talk loot-crates. A lot of people hate them, but consider that for a very long time now loot-crates have been used to introduce DLC and bonus items. Skyhold even has a permanent loot-crate in the basement! Why not allow me to continue buying packs of random items and materials? This exists in multiplayer, so I don't see why I can't do the same thing in single-player!
Earlier I mentioned rich and artistic games. Games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age have incredibly deep lore and back stories. They have long included codices for reference material. A lot of people missed the narrated codex from Mass Effect 1. You know what? Would I pay a few extra dollars to have narrated codex entries about Cole and Sera? You bet I would!
My last idea for monetization is in the decorations and other frivolous content. Flavor content is the spice of life! All I ask is that you let me buy a bunch of pyjaks to unleash on the Tempest. I want nothing more than to hear Drack bitching about pyjaks and Lexi complaining about zoonotic diseases. And really, the biggest missed opportunity was not allowing the Inquisitor to start a nug ranch in Skyhold. Just sayin.
Games are expensive to create and gamers are demanding. We both want the same thing, ultimately. Give us what we truly want and we will absolutely give you what you want in exchange for it.
TL;DR
As a gamer I want:
Deep back-stories with rich experiences
High-fidelity, personal, emotional experiences
Relatable, dynamic characters
Highly customizable gameplay mechanics (awesome crafting systems)
Fun side-content (like pyjaks)
More DLC and continued expansions of the stories and worlds
As a business you could monetize:
Crafting materials, mods, and other in-game consumables
Decorations and other flavor content
In-game money and XP (probably only after the first playthrough)
Other in-game point systems
Loot-crates of random and/or new items (even new missions!)
New character dialogue and interactions (complaining about pyjaks and nugs, for instance)
Codex entries and other backstory/lore stuff
Open letter to EA/BioWare
Please add microtransactions to single-player games.
I am a gamer and an investor. As a gamer I want a rich, artistic, and high-fidelity game. As an investor I want to see robust cashflows.
The things I want to see as a gamer are expensive asks, I know. As a businessman, I see many missed opportunities to monetize the awesome franchises you have. We can bring these two things together to make everyone happy.
Rich, artistic and high-fidelity games require a lot of development time and top-notch writing as well as talented actors and actresses to really bring the characters to life. Part of the appeal of games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age is that the gamer can choose to play them however they like. There inlies one of the biggest opportunities to monetize single-player.
BioWare has long had crafting systems in their games. In fact, it was KOTOR that turned me on to RPG's to begin with, which also had a crafting system. Lots of players have been dissapointed by crafting systems lately, but I see this as a huge opportunity to make everyone happier.
Crafting systems require materials and mods. In most cases, players scavenge these digital consumables from in-game. I have no problem with that. However, for the sake of monetization, why not allow players to purchase crafting materials with real money, rather than just in-game money? As I mentioned before, part of the appeal of these games is the personal touch we can all put on our playthroughs. I like custom tailoring weapons and armor to my play-style and I actually spend a considerable amount of time on crafting activities. As the Pathfinder in ME:A I really enjoyed unlocking the Ghost and building one with a vintage heatsink. I liked making a Dhan that would drain some of my health as a Vanguard so that I could smash enemies and never reload. Would I pay a few extra dollars to craft more awesome in-game content? You bet I would!
Many other games have other point-systems such as ME3 with the Galactic Readiness, or DA:I with Influence, or ME:A with Andromeda Points. These devices are used to unlock in-game perks and/or influence the story. In ME3 the Galactic Readiness score encouraged players to play multiplayer, which was already monetized. To be completely honest I don't give a rat's ass about multiplayer. As an RPG gamer, it's not about interacting with other humans, it's about enjoying an intensely personal experience. Think of it like reading a good book. This is purely a single-player activity. These point systems could easily be monetized.
Let's talk loot-crates. A lot of people hate them, but consider that for a very long time now loot-crates have been used to introduce DLC and bonus items. Skyhold even has a permanent loot-crate in the basement! Why not allow me to continue buying packs of random items and materials? This exists in multiplayer, so I don't see why I can't do the same thing in single-player!
Earlier I mentioned rich and artistic games. Games such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age have incredibly deep lore and back stories. They have long included codices for reference material. A lot of people missed the narrated codex from Mass Effect 1. You know what? Would I pay a few extra dollars to have narrated codex entries about Cole and Sera? You bet I would!
My last idea for monetization is in the decorations and other frivolous content. Flavor content is the spice of life! All I ask is that you let me buy a bunch of pyjaks to unleash on the Tempest. I want nothing more than to hear Drack bitching about pyjaks and Lexi complaining about zoonotic diseases. And really, the biggest missed opportunity was not allowing the Inquisitor to start a nug ranch in Skyhold. Just sayin.
Games are expensive to create and gamers are demanding. We both want the same thing, ultimately. Give us what we truly want and we will absolutely give you what you want in exchange for it.
TL;DR
As a gamer I want:
Deep back-stories with rich experiences
High-fidelity, personal, emotional experiences
Relatable, dynamic characters
Highly customizable gameplay mechanics (awesome crafting systems)
Fun side-content (like pyjaks)
More DLC and continued expansions of the stories and worlds
As a business you could monetize:
Crafting materials, mods, and other in-game consumables
Decorations and other flavor content
In-game money and XP (probably only after the first playthrough)
Other in-game point systems
Loot-crates of random and/or new items (even new missions!)
New character dialogue and interactions (complaining about pyjaks and nugs, for instance)
Codex entries and other backstory/lore stuff