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[Nirolak]

Since I know microtransactions are a hot topic around here, this is how they work in Driveclub.

Driveclub will feature small microtransactions that let you unlock cars early, according to the title's game director.

Speaking to IGN, Paul Rustchynsky explained that the developer is aware the feature may be controversial among gamers, so has made certain that it in no way unbalances gameplay or places anything out of reach.

"It’s been a hot topic of late inside gaming, and we’ve been very keen to take on board the feedback from gamers and make sure we don’t upset anyone," he revealed. "So, in Driveclub, what we’ve done is make sure that the progression system is really straightforward, really simple and gives you access to a lot of content really quickly.

"In Driveclub you earn Fame, and as you earn Fame, you level up. Every time you level up, we give you another car. There’s no double gating or anything along those lines, you’re given the car straight away without having to do anything else. The only thing we do have is a couple of shortcuts.

"If you want to unlock a car immediately, you can pay to unlock that car straight away but it’s not a consumable microtransaction. We don’t let people buy Fame, for example and spend lots and lots. The idea is if you want to shortcut things you can do – it’s identical to what we did in Motorstorm RC. So if you played that, you know what we’re doing here."

...

Source: http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/09/driveclubs-microtransactions-detailed-countries-revealed

 

[jaypah]

This is fair so long as the core progression system is still fair and doesn't introduce grinding to nudge people towards paying.

 

[brickwalker0]

No Gems currency?

Thats the foundation of free to play.

 

[DNAbro]

So how much will it actually cost?

 

[McDougles]

As long as it doesn't take 2 years to unlock everything normally....nah, it's still a bit shady to include microtransactions in a full-price game. Especially when it's essentially a paid cheat code.

 

[Loudninja]

@c_sheridan Consumable microtransactions that look to exploit players, influence game design and balancing are a plague

@J23PR Cars are rapidly unlocked as you play, you'll quickly have a garage full to choose from.

@Saikes I said there would be no consumable microtransations, such as currencies, which would allow players to spend money ad infinitum.

https://twitter.com/Rushy33/status/464779730168709120

 

[fade_]

I will await Kotaku's article thanking God that this is implemented.

 

[Daffy Duck]

#4thepayers.

Sorry, couldn't resist. Too much coffee.

 

[ItIsOkBro]

Basically if you have that level 50 car at fame level 1 everyone will point and laugh at you.

 

[minty_jpg]

I was upset at first but I actually don't mind this.

 

[shem935]

As long as the grinding is not horrendous to get cars then this is fine.

 

[SuicidalSteve]

Good on them to implement it in this way

 

[flyinpiranha]

Sounds good to me. I don't mind DLC as long as it doesn't alter the path of the original game.

 

[Exile20]

This still annoys me. I still keep asking myself why can't you unlock everything right now?

I can understand adding progression to keep people playing the game, but using more money than you already played to skip the progression the dev actively put in on purpose?

 

[MilesTeg]

Not surprising. Depends on how long it takes to level up to tell how much of a money grab it is.

 

[besada]

So, basically like Forza. You can buy your way into a car rather than grind your way there.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Meh really not a fan of a PaytoSkip option as it only encourages further attempts and where one such as this may or may not be fair to players unwilling to pay, the more common it becomes the more chance of future game designs being compromised to encourage higher Mattricks sales

 

[Goreomedy]

This still annoys me. I still keep asking myself why can't you unlock everything right now?

I can understand adding progression to keep people playing the game, but using more money than you already played to skip the progression the dev actively put in on purpose?

I think it's a great option for renters or weekend gamers.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

This game can't get a break.

EDIT: Not that micro transactions bother me that much. I'm know some people will be upset, though.

 

[Zukuu]

Remember the times when you could input a cheat and have unlocked all cars? Good times.

 

[BruiserBear]

So, basically like Forza. You can buy your way into a car rather than grind your way there.

Well, hopefully not the way Forza 4 was when it launched, because there is no doubt that shit was engineered to make it painful to unlock nicer cars. It's since been fixed.

 

[RulkezX]

Like I say in every last MT thread - they're fine if the core game remains unchanged. I don't care if someone with more £ can buy stuff early as long as progression isn't gimped to force players towards MT.

 

[dejan]

Wouldn't be a decent arcade racer without shortcuts, now would it? ... Eh? ... Eh? ... I"ll show myself out.

 

[Lima]

NFS always did this in recent years. No problemo.

Gives people with less time the ability to just have fun with the cars they want.

Time > Money

 

[N.Domixis]

If they are going to let people buy these cars to get everything without even trying why not put dunce hat graphics all over these cars? That way we know who to laugh at when we race.

 

[Acquiescence]

I saw red when I first glanced upon that thread title, but actually, it's a pretty reasonable system they've got in place. Just seems to be there for the impatient who want to drive certain vehicles as soon as possible.

 

[styl3s]

I saw red when I first glanced upon that thread title, but actually, it's a pretty reasonable system they've got in place. Just seems to be there for the impatient who want to drive certain vehicles as soon as possible.

Or for people like me that maybe gets 2 hours of game time on a weekday and would rather spend it driving cars i enjoy then spending 2 months unlocking them.

 

[Kintaro]

Man, remember how cool it was back in the day to have cheat codes to unlock everything at the start of the game. Those were the days...

/yellsatclouds.

 

[ricardokenshin]

aww this freaking sucks! I was so excited about this game. Not buying anymore... oh well

 

[Lima]

If they are going to let people buy these cars to get everything without even trying why not put dunce hat graphics all over these cars? That way we know who to laugh at when we race.

Well said poor chap.

 

[manual4]

man this game...it's almost like they want it to fail.

 

[Remark]

Even though I don't like the idea of micro transactions in a full price game the idea isn't that bad unless it takes forever to level up. At least this way you can which bought the car or got it legitly.

 

[Gaz_RB]

This still annoys me. I still keep asking myself why can't you unlock everything right now?

I can understand adding progression to keep people playing the game, but using more money than you already played to skip the progression the dev actively put in on purpose?

This is my issue as well. Why not just add a separate arcade mode with everything unlocked from the get go if you care about consumer's time so much?

Remember the times when you could input a cheat and have unlocked all cars? Good times.

Right?

 

[Sendou]

I never understood why I have to pay extra to access content I already paid for the way (and when) I want to.

 

[Guymelef]

man this game...it's almost like they want it to fail.

You are trying too hard today with this game.

 

[N.Domixis]

I remember when we had cheats that did this.

 

[besada]

Well, hopefully not the way Forza 4 was when it launched, because there is no doubt that shit was engineered to make it painful to unlock nicer cars. It's since been fixed.

As a player of Forza, I never really noticed that there was much difficulty in unlocking things. They did make it significantly easier with later patches, and with the rewards that toss 300K in your account every month, but by the time they did that I already had a more cars than I could reasonably use.

 

[sn00zer]

Damn it....... of course cheat codes to do the same are out of the question now

 

[Mesoian]

So, basically like Forza. You can buy your way into a car rather than grind your way there.

As long as you have the option and the progression for actually playing the game isn't completely fucked like it was for Forza, I'm fine with this.

 

[DNAbro]

man this game...it's almost like they want it to fail.

This isn't going to effect sales lol

 

[Aquamarine]

Meh really not a fan of a PaytoSkip option as it only encourages further attempts and where one such as this may or may not be fair to players unwilling to pay, the more common it becomes the more chance of future game designs being compromised to encourage higher Mattricks sales

Agreed. Personally I'm not all that concerned about this form of microtransactions...it seems pretty harmless.

It's the precedent games like this set for microtransactions included in $60 games as a default that worries me.

 

[EdgeXL]

https://twitter.com/Rushy33/status/464779730168709120

Sounds like he is taking a dig at Gran Turismo 6.

I personally don't have a problem with microtransations - even in paid games- if they do not require a player to go through lots of tedious grinding or other tasks to beat the game.

 

[BananaSprinkles]

Driveclub is in weird territory, at least in my opinion. You get the full game (platinum trophy achievable) for free if you're a PS+ member. The game itself just has very limited content. Then you can buy DLC (the $50 upgrade option.) I don't really care about microtransaction in free games.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I like how they always explain it as helping people. They listened to the fans and made a way to bypass all the grinding so you can buy a great car from the start....

I would be ok if they had like 3 cars per level and you get a free car at your level of your choice at each level up. You can only buy cars that are your level or below.

I would still like there to be no microtransactions, but that isn't going to happen.

 

[Hoodbury]

I guess I don't know enough about the game and how it works but if they do say there is a level system and progression towards getting newer cars one would assume the newer cars would probably be better than the earlier level cars right?

If so, won't most of us be starting out in Volvo's and someone could just buy a Lamborghini and win every race easily?

 

[shem935]

man this game...it's almost like they want it to fail.

2/10 needed more concern with the trollings

 

[Arkam]

As long as it doesn't take 2 years to unlock everything normally....nah, it's still a bit shady to include microtransactions in a full-price game. Especially when it's essentially a paid cheat code.

Time = Money

You spend time, others will spend money.

As long as a person can only pay to speed up progression/unlocks I fully support it.

 

[Foshy]

Wouldn't be a decent arcade racer without shortcuts, now would it? ... Eh? ... Eh? ... I"ll show myself out.

hey, i chuckled.

Motorstorm RC's microtransactions were extremely unobtrusive, I never even noticed them. So yeah, I don't care.

 

[T.O.P]

As long as you have the option and the progression for actually playing the game isn't completely fucked like it was for Forza, I'm fine with this.

What Forza are we talking about?

If 5 it's the game in question that's a weird thing to say

 

[styl3s]

Meh really not a fan of a PaytoSkip option as it only encourages further attempts and where one such as this may or may not be fair to players unwilling to pay, the more common it becomes the more chance of future game designs being compromised to encourage higher Mattricks sales

How is this unfair for people unwilling to pay? you can unlock everything without paying.

This is for people who don't want to spend the time grinding or don't have the time, that's unfair because people have lives? Why does it matter if i spend $20-50 to unlock everything? Does that somehow ruin your experience with the game?