Free To Play: Blessing or Curse
Welcome back fellow nerds!
Today's topic of discussion is the good and bad with the Free to Play market. Is it a parasite to the gaming genre? Or is it a welcomed addition for that "on the run" gaming itch? Let's dive on in!
Disclaimer: This will be a non bias report about each party, Both Flaws and Strengths towards the two in question today.
O.K. Folks lets start with the Free to Play genre and its introduction to the whole market place that it has created over the past years.
Free to play games allow that pick up play style that a lot of people choose in today's busy life. This may be something around the lines of that bus or train ride to work, sitting in the doctors or dentist appointment to just relaxing at home.
With free to play there has always been a stigma around them, that "Free to Play" really means "Pay to Win". Being the Gaming heavy person that I am, I find this has some merit along side some false accusations from within the community.
Free to Play games certainly allow that fast 10-15 minute time wasting blast we may need when away from our consoles or what have you. However, they also introduce the past and present generations to new/old games they may want to try or relive past memories with.
With the above mentioned there does come the dreaded Micro Transactions: ways to pay to get better loot or improve the game past that tough part you just cant beat!, But with this we look down on the player who use these options in their games. Maybe the player just hasn't played as long as we have or this is the first game they are introduced to. With this we should take in all matters before jumping right into the negative methods we usually do.
Personally I find mobile gaming a great option for those who don't have the cash to drop $50-90 dollars every two weeks, or maybe that new Triple A title just launched. With that said I do however hate the micro transactions at times in games where they give you the "Hey! For $3.00 remove ads" or "$15.00 special price on Gems" spam we see all too often.
As for the Console/Handheld market: your Big Names Being Sony and Nintendo, who have had the market place cornered for the last 10 plus years aren't any better in more ways then one.
First example I have is the old days; Go to your local game shop, pick that game you been dying to play, maybe you tried it at your buddies house at a sleep over if your a younger gamer, or that time you and the guys/girls got together and had some good old laughs with the newest title or bought cause you would all hang out and host a LAN Party (I.E. Monster Hunter Series).
In today's market We don't Have that. We get a half baked game with DLC to fill that void the Disk or Cart had back in the day. Not only do we spend $70 on that new game but an additional $30-40 for that season pass for the new content, Yet we Look down upon the Mobile market for the same practices.
Personally, again I fall into the camp of gamers that follow this trend. We see it as "OK well, this will expand the life of my game and I'll see that value of my original purchase more". Why isn't the same thought process applied to mobile games?
I think the reason this seems to happen over one and the other is we prioritize the company's that brought us up as kids. The Nintendo's, Atari's and so on. Mobile gaming has its niche place in our markets and belongs where it is.
Nerds Sound Off!,
I want feedback on this one! Are mobile games poison to the market of gaming?, do we need them to introduce new people as we use to when we would go over to that friends house?
Once again Nerds, This is Hydro_LK Signing off
Happīgēmu (Happy Gaming!)
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