Trust the AI they said. They'll bring us a better future they said.

"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
10/18/2017 at 23:18 • Filed to: None

Good bye free will and having an accurate perception of the world.

TL;DW- Activation patented a new profiling system determine your play style and skill. Then set you up to get rekt by better players until you buy something in game (real money) then it’ll put you up against worse players so you’ll think the purchase was worth it.

Now I know it’s a video game. But just wait until shit like this is all around us. There’s already an argument that facebook and YouTube algorithms are created “Echo Chambers” and there’s already been some sketchy shit associated with targeted advertising. (I don’t remember the source, but remember reading that in another country. Some company was caught specifically advertising to Bipolar people when they were on their up swings, or whatever they’re called. When they knew they’d be much more likely to impulse by.)

Edit: Also way to go side bar. At least only show stuff that’s not on the first page.

DISCUSSION (11)

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/18/2017 at 23:28

Semi-relevant, sent to me by a friend:

Pinpointing exactly when R* discovered microtransactions/in-game purchases:

Kinja'd!!!

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
10/18/2017 at 23:33

I think the only solution to micro transaction is to bump up the price of the games initially. With all the crazy graphics and larger maps and still only selling games for $60. I can see why they’re going the micro transaction route. Hopefully if there’s some kind of a gentleman’s agreement just to bump games up to $70-$80, but have no micro transactions.

Sam > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/18/2017 at 23:37

I’m holding out hope that they only have this patent to stop others from doing the same thing. Like Amazon’s tech to stop you from comparison shopping on your phone in a department store. They don’t wanna use it, they just don’t want it used against them.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/18/2017 at 23:38

That’s tough to do though. I can see people saying $60 is a bit much but acceptable to pay and they don’t ever do in game purchases, but they’d balk at $75. Even if it means no in game purchases, discounting the tech advances that could, in theory, demand a price increase on their own. Personally, I’d rather pay the $60 with the option for in game purchases, so long as the company doesn’t just get greedy (like R*) and focus on in game purchasing instead of putting out new and great games every year.

It’s hard because there’s a market for every way a company could play it and ultimately, they’re after the market that makes them the most $$.

CB > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
10/18/2017 at 23:46

Granted, consider how frequent updates to GTA V have been, and how Red Dead Redemption 2 is coming out next year, and how much work probably had to go into. I can’t fault Rockstar for it.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/18/2017 at 23:52

Or conversely, realize that not all games need 100 million dollar budgets....

It’s like having a friend decide that he always needs the newest car, newest tech, best food, but then asking you to buy him lunch and dinner whenever you’re out because he has no money. I don’t see how you having poor spending habits means I need to bail you out. Likewise, if you “need” microtransactions after accepting advertising money, doing promotional tie-ins with food or snacks, and underpaying your employees just to “make money” - I question how well you spend your budget.

I have much more respect when a company just goes “We made hats. Buy our hats. We like money. People buy our hats and give us money which we like. And we want another hot tub in the offices”. But that’s just me....

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > CB
10/18/2017 at 23:53

I can’t fault them for it either - personally I’m not a huge fan of microtransactions but I completely get it. Not to mention that, along the lines of what you mentioned, considering the vast tech improvements and how much more expansive games are getting, it’s no wonder there will be more time between new game launches from any company. Aside from the games that just build a little off the previous year like NHL, NFL, NBA and FIFA type games.

Though, to the original point of the post, I have to say the profiling system is deceptive BS.

Maxima Speed > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
10/19/2017 at 01:25

If games rise above $60 you can count me out. One of the major benefits of video gaming for me is the price. Compared to the movie theater or autocross or paint balling it’s cheap. If prices start to go up more, I’ll find “real” things to spend my money on.

VonBootWilly - Likes Toyota, but it's still complicated. > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/19/2017 at 05:38

I know it’s a hopeless strategy, but don’t buy their content if you don’t like their business practice. At least don’t buy the content that should have been included in the first place, like day one DLC stupidity.

I’ve basically given up on EA and Microsoft anything. I hate it even more when they stop supporting a game and it becomes old, but they still don’t release the DLC content. Microsoft has even gone as far as removing the store content like planes/areas from Flight, and not making them accessible at all if you still own the game. Don’t even get me started about Forza 4 and using great cars like the Mine’s R34 as a “unicorn” joke rare handout car and ruining it.

I got hooked on Warframe for most of the year, it’s free, and it’s pretty fun, to the point that I’ve spent some money on content gladly and felt great about paying Digital Extremes for their work. People should ALWAYS feel great about paying for a game or content. There is always a smarter/better publisher/game out there to not waste your time on.

Nibbles > DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time
10/19/2017 at 08:37

$60 is still a good pricepoint for vanilla, however most players opt for the $80-$100 ‘limited edition’ copy, containing season passes and some ‘special’ content, already. I for one haven’t paid less than $80 for a $60 game in a while. It’s burned me badly too at times (I’m looking right at you, Tom Clancy’s The Division ) . I’ve also paid full pop for a game and had my experience soured ( Call of Duty: Black Ops III ) by microtransaction content breaking my experience to the point of uninstalling the game and never looking back

This video doesn’t worry me; I’ve seen this coming for a long while. To say it’s not in play isn’t entirely true either. They already use the code listed in point 1. I haven’t seen evidence of the urge to buy and the highlight purchase bits yet, but I’m sure they’re already in use in some form. When this does happen I will just finish cutting myself from Activision properties altogether.

Nibbles > Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
10/19/2017 at 08:45

The profiling bit has been in play for quite some time. If I had to pin it down I’d say it was introduced in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. By itself it’s innocuous at best, and engaging at worst. The profiling algorithms are (were) intended to keep a poorly-performing player engaged enough to git gud, and keep the elite players evenly matched. This alone is a good thing (nobody wants to be curbstomped every game, and I’ve noticed less Christmas Noobs in my lobbies)

It’s pairing the profiler with these microtransaction-forward algos that is the kicker.