The Sinister Reasons For Adding Microtransactions After Launch (The Jimquisition)

[@montague4931]

Ya know, for an industry that wants you to pre-order all their games they sure do like to discourage us from buying their games at launch XD

[@VioletDeathRei]

They are fishing for whales so the less people who don't want to spend money that bite, the easy it is to find their real prey. Sadly it doesn't hurt them much.

[@superthorc6894]

Montague yup they milking on their product for everything they got to players rage

[@DeadlyYellow]

@laharl sama I'd be more suspect of the day-one patch having that goal.

[@Tleilaxu0]

@@VioletDeathRei So the same reason why "nigerian prince"-type scammers always use bad spelling in their spam mail?

[@tenorte9833]

Arya Aditya Purbadi no need for excuses, thief.

[@sasaki8765]

OH MY GOD JIM YOU'RE STILL BANGING ON ABOUT THIS SHIT? Good. Keep up the good work.

[@SidheKnight]

Hahah that twist at the end! You got me man.

[@33melonpaws77]

Beautiful twist.

[@Haan22]

Not gonna lie, he had me in the first half.

[@mightylink65]

Yeah really, I know its repeditive but we need to keep it up until its fixed.

[@Eshir92]

That ending tho saying what needed to be said even though it shouldn't be even I said thank god for jim

[@Helmic]

I keep saying this - reviewers should retroactively change scores when publishers do this. Don't let them get away with this horse shit, update your reviews and knock some points off and let them bellyache about it.

[@toddbot7545]

No no no we need those deceptive reviews!

[@burningphoenix6679]

Helmic that would take effort. And don’t expect effort from most of these “journalists”

[@crtg4672]

Some do. The issue is that when it's weeks later, it doesn't matter anymore. The bulk of people already made up their mind either buying or passing on it by that point.

[@william.mariner4230]

If the industry had any backbone they would stop reviewing game from these kind of publishers, but Shills gotta Shill.

[@krspaceT1]

I've seen it with a few games, but the main example I think of is Splatoon, and that doesn't really have this problem.

[@chris999999999999]

Q: Why did Activision cross the road? A: Pay $1 for a chance to get the punchline to this joke!

[@konkrz2374]

hopefully it's: "To kill itself."

[@ScorpionAndZangief]

To get to the other side and put a lootbox there.

[@Ezekiel-pc4ef]

So...... about that paypal?!? We are still waiting!!

[@claytongruberman6065]

Good one! Fxxk you Activision

[@me-tj5vr]

Obviously fake they would ask for $5

[@Uriel238]

As a poor person, I usually have to wait until games become the _complete edition_ with all the extras bundled in, and then wait until _that_ is on sale. It looks like AAA is doing more and more to encourage others to do the same.

[@dreambrother16]

I started doing that for financial reasons years ago. These days I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford the occasional new AAA release but in 99% of cases I know it's still not worth my time because the publisher has either already ruined the game with this rubbish or they are likely to do so in the future. At this point there's maybe 2 companies I actually buy at launch from, the rest I do the exact same thing as you and just wait out the complete edition. More content, less cost, more time to watch how the publisher handles the game post-launch.

[@nafnlaus_vee]

Yep yep. Anthem is already 20 bucks at Walmart. I think you're into something my dude.

[@Itri_Vega]

I'm doing the same, to 1) save money 2) wait out glitches 3) avoid predatory bullshit being added in later 4) get the complete package for a fair price. The only games I used to get at launch were Monster Hunter games, but with gestures and costumes for the Handler already being DLC that might soon change.

[@samanthaclyde8688]

Ah! I do the same except for me it's not a money issue but more a time issue. :D I'm a 40 years-old woman with a full time job, family responsabilities, work deadlines.... I could buy games on launch but I won't be able to play them right away since my backlog is already full of games waiting to be played. So why buy new games at full price? So ok, sure, this week-end I'll play Horizon Zero Dawn for the very 1st time but at least I bought the complete edition (bonus, extras and DLC included) for 20€. No regrets.

[@Theo_Caro]

That's standard for me.

[@Revenante_of_Asylum]

"Let's circumvent the ESRB, the organization made so that governments don't regulate us directly." "Yes, this is a plan that has no potential to backfire."

[@Texelion]

Actually the ESRB has nothing to do with the government, it was created by the ESA, which is composed of big wigs from the game industry. So basically they try to circumvent their own rules because they're getting in their way. Also that same ESA is responsible for that big data leak he's talking about, and they organize the E3. In other words, they can eat shit and die.

[@SadisticSenpai61]

@@Texelion That's what Revenante was saying. The ESRB was created specifically because the government was threatening to regulate video games. Now they're making efforts to go around the ESRB and make it irrelevant - which means we're back at where we were in the early 1990s with various governments around the world looking at video games and thinking "maybe we should put some regulations and restrictions on those."

[@silverdamascus2023]

At first, it was good to see videogame companies regulating themselves instead of government doing that, but of course, over the years we started needing government regulation again.

[@ManoredRed]

@@silverdamascus2023 Companies regulating themselves sounds good in theory, is bad in practice because the're not interested in defending the actual public, only in creating the illusion of that the're doing that.

[@Wingtrl]

So let them do whatever they want as long as the government stays away? Oh here is a unskippable commercial in the need big game everyone wants unskippable unless you pay us 15 dollars a month

[@bookfish]

It was like: "don't preorder" Now it's like: " wait at least half a year before you buy" or "don't even bother buying, just pirate EA/Actiblizz/Ubisoft/Bethesda games"

[@stylesrj]

It was always "Wait half a year" for me... sometimes a year or two.

[@happyspaceinvader508]

stylesrj Same. Some healthy discounts to be had after waiting a year it more.

[@joelsweeney4024]

Sad life huh?

[@joelsweeney4024]

I buy most games like 2 years late

[@nfzeta128]

@Joshua Kierstead Yep, it'll soon be "pirate until you're sure you want it and sure nothing funny is going on".

[@Hapidjus_]

It should be straight up ILLEGAL to "patch" a game in such a way that would change its ESRB rating after launch. Adding micro-transactions into a game after its launch is just like adding blood, gore and explicit material to the newest "My little Pony" game that was rated suitable for children in the first place. Absolutely disgusting practice and everyone should think twice before buying a game right after launch (and thrice before you pre-order).

[@xdevantx5870]

The ESRB is an industry group not a government regulatory body. It specifically exists to prevent what you're suggesting among other things. That part of what makes trying to circumvent it so ironic.

[@jacobsmith4428]

Ehhhhh.... I'm not advocating any of the shit going on with Activision, but perhaps that's twisting to the opposite extreme? I mean DLC in general are considered "in-game purchases" so if somebody adds in an expansion to a game where there was no in-game purchases of any kind, it would be considered the same grounds as what Activision has been horribly exploiting. So here's a thought, the game company HAS to tell the ESRB that there will be future changes like that, especially in regards to in-game purchases. It's real simple, and if they blatantly lie about it then they get a fine. The rating will retroactively tell us that either the in-game purchases are already in the game or are going to be, less effort needs to be made by the ESRB to patch the issue, and the consumer benefits wholly from it.

[@PurpleAlzir]

@@jacobsmith4428 Expansions usually have their own ESRB rating anyway. It also isn't that hard to make the distinction between in app purchases and an expansion though it might be a pain to not leave any loopholes.

[@jacobsmith4428]

@@PurpleAlzir To the first point, fair enough, but it would still fit into the terminology of "in-game purchases" by mere existence as something you could purchase within the game, whether or not the content of the expansion changes the ESRB rating of the original game enough to warrant its own ESRB rating, and therefore the ESRB would have to patch that in, and thus falls into the trappings of what Hapi djus is describing.

[@PurpleAlzir]

@@jacobsmith4428 It would definitely need to be more specific because of expansions and DLC. Then again the companies would likely start just having after a month or more release a free "DLC" that adds them in to circumvent it.

[@TrilbeeReviews]

Remember when the "Hot Coffee" mod was discovered in GTA: San Andreas and because it's inclusion changed its ESRB rating, they had to recall it and redistribute the game in order to account for the change? Surely that should happen here, right? The ESRB can force companies to recall their unsold games at great expense.

[@yetanotherhankhill1032]

Hot Coffee mod?

[@chasekelloggbyron1412]

EXACTLY.

[@Ckoz2829]

YetAnotherHankHill In GTA San Andreas, there was a hidden sex scene that can only be accessed by way of hacking the game, but someone did and posted the video online and that landed Rockstar in a heap of trouble with the ESRB, which is why they were forced to recall their games or risk an AO rating which cannot be sold by regular distributors and would severely hurt their bottom line.

[@Spills51]

Technically AO games can be sold by Wlamart etc...They just choose not to.@@Ckoz2829

[@jotabeas22]

@@Spills51 ...but they sell guns. Noted.

[@Tubeite]

AAA game publishers now use the same business model as drug dealers. Give you a taste of a product for free or at a low price, get you hooked, then jack up the price and bleed you dry. Think about that before you make your next game purchase.

[@ddshocktrooper5604]

Hook -> Habit. This was what they meant.

[@sirjmo]

Except they still ask 60 bucks for the (shell of a) game, often with 4 different deluxe editions.

[@SerMattzio]

"Oh we only charge $60, we're the good guys. It hasn't changed. Now be a good chap and shell out $60 for the season pass, $20 for the optional DLC (that changes the game ending completely), $40 extra for the Gold Edition, and then $15 every time you want anything cosmetic."

[@oliverheaven9462]

If a drug dealer tried to pull some of the shit games publishers do, they'd get their jaw spun

[@realzachfluke1]

Tubeite thank god we still have CD Projekt Red. Thank fucking god for them. Them and their Cyberpunk 2077 game are the only preorder I will be paying for. Even CD urges people to not preorder the game if they aren’t sold on it yet, because that’s good business and consumer friendliness. They only want you to preorder as an early vote of confidence *_if and only if_* you are sold on it. Then on top of that, they don’t pull the “digital deluxe edition, and bullshitty bullshit edition” type crap. You get the standard game with digital goodies, a game case stuffed to the brim with goodies like stickers and maps, for the standard 60, or you are a hardcore fan and get the collectors edition. There’s no in between, and they don’t make you feel like you’re missing out for not spending an additional 20, 40, or 60 dollars for an EA-like *digital worthless crap edition*. The best part? These guys aren’t going to nickel and dime their players with addictive, shitty, abhorrent micro transactions and loot boxes. to my buds @ CD PROJEKT RED, WE ARE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY

[@gamesfond]

He makes some good points. What if a dev added pornographic content to a child's game post launch? Yet people practically accept gambling.

[@plenumshamu4037]

Something Something the Hot Coffee incident.

[@Ryumeyer]

@@capturedflame depends on circumstances.Either could be as bad as the other.

[@chaoscontroller316]

@@Ryumeyer More instant backlash would come from the porn, so gambling has become the lesser of two evils to these devils.

[@SidheKnight]

@@capturedflame But this is kiddie porn. Not harmless adult porn. Though to be fair, I don't think they'd ever do that. There's no profit for them in that, and it's too risky. Gambling, on the other hand.. easy money

[@dyveira]

@@capturedflame I have a PC and a PS4. What's the issue?

[@TakunHiwatari]

Imagine doing your research before buying games to make sure there's no bullshit, and the game company promises that there won't be any micro transactions or lootboxes, so you get the game and then this shit happens. The next video game crash can't happen soon enough.

[@sheriffaboubakar9720]

Takun Hiwatari Can't crash if they aren't losing money.

[@prezzeruk4054]

I think if theres online proof of a dev saying there will be no mtx or lootboxes in their game. If it turns out there is, there should be punishment, like anyone wanting a full refund can!! That will curb the fuckers!!!

[@TakunHiwatari]

@@sheriffaboubakar9720 apparently it might be possible if they keep failing to "meet expectations."

[@sethbritton6970]

Don't forget- the worst offenders are tax payer subsidized. We the people pay them regardless of whether or not we buy anything. They truly have no excuse

[@firstname3388]

*cough* black ops 4 *cough*

[@PregnantOrc]

Bring in the law. Make them pay for a total recall to update game cases on an updated rating. It's false advertisement after all. "It's a free extra/update" is like throwing free peanuts at a crowd with some suffering nut allergies.

[@daemonisedone4256]

Billion dollar fines as well equalling the projected sales of each game that is sold as a "microtransaction free game" otherwise its not worth it.

[@Rutherford_Inchworm_III]

"like throwing free peanuts at a crowd with some suffering nut allergies." wat

[@nfzeta128]

@@Rutherford_Inchworm_III Basically just because its free doesn't mean its good. Especially when taking into account the group you give it too.

[@Appletank8]

Feck Eric-Schmidt A person goes to a show that’s advertised peanut free, because they have nut allergies. Halfway through the show he is hit with peanuts.

[@taylorlarson9669]

Easy fix. If the label changes (eg. gambling is added) you are entitled to a refund.

[@dontfeelsogood2758]

Taylor Larson true

[@aniszbd]

This is actually a great idea.

[@Pestilence360]

No, you‘re still able to play the game offline, without any patches and microtransactions. The basic version of a game on the disc, didn’t changed afterwards.

[@michaeldreyer1651]

I think that's a good idea, but you have to get the ESRB to defend that and update the labeling immediately. That would be exploitable in the most delicious way though.

[@Eunostos]

@@Pestilence360 The game won't run offline without calling home to check for and install updates.

[@paladin181]

Should simply be illegal to add rating changing content after release, and major fines for companies who do.

[@cw1424]

100% they're undermining the system and should be punished.

[@Wyzai]

Not necessary illegal, but it should at the bare minimum qualify customers for a refund.

[@Wyzai]

@GabrielTheGray You think that's proportional punishment for adding drug themes to the game or changing its age rating by niche choices? Thing like adding or removing boobs from a non-essential part of the game. I'm sure there are a lot of situations where details would affect the age rating of a game. Only one I can think of off the top of my head is that I recall violence and nudity have different ratings and in the context of things like The Witcher it seems odd.

[@vivisect53]

They should have to recall all copies on store shelves too.

[@LaylaSpellwind]

"I'm impressed you're still here." Funnily enough the same thing I think whenever I see Todd Howard.

[@Synjinnzfate]

This was just to spite the caring and involved parents who actively try to shield from games of a predatory nature. Activision wants to make the parents the bad guy in taking away a game that the kids have already invested time in. Kinda like a war on good parenting... Emotional blackmail to accepting a predator that also really likes to push gambling addiction.

[@xdevantx5870]

"A war on good parenting." "Emotional Blackmail" I'm going to use these.

[@jamescornwell1935]

it makes a difference as a player since the late 80’s with a 6 year old that loves playing games. i have to always vet and confirm the games. i tell him up front why i do things and that if their are bad games there are also other good ones. honestly there are so many good games these days that if you have. ps4 and switch etc like i do then you have options. ipad / iphone is trash but that is nothing new, and having steam gog etc is fine for me for the odd game it doesn’t suit a child, consoles do. so what do you do if you bought ctr for your kids, you hard lock the parental controls so they can’t buy a fucking thing without your express permission, which is what you should do anyways. better yet convince them now is a good time to sell it or trade it on kijiji etc for another quality game they are interested in. you know activision eaids ubishit take2 warner are all greedy af cunts so you have to wait and vet from them if you must buy their trash. im trying ea access on ps4 this month and for my $5 cad i know what i am dealing with, i immediately cancelled the sub and will not be reupping, however as a rental for unravel 1/2 among a few other games locked under their curtain of bs there are some cool stuff to play in this capacity as much as i am loathe to give ea money, and some cool stuff for my son to check out. nontendo want $80 cad for every damn port and $100 cad controllers and $25 cad for their worthless online but they have some good ips and currently are not putting the pachinko bs in despite advancing their dlc strats. sony has a ton of great games without the predatory bs. use parental controls, talk to your kids about what and why they are playing and make them earn their games and gametime with behaviour/ school etc. as jim said the patching in after is a predictable move so delay buying from these clowns till you know what it is you are buying. luigis mansion 3 however you can just pickup ad one it won’t go on sale and nintendo doesn’t patch in bs. (as of yet) lastly i do not think these companies have any respect for parents and children, they don’t care and just want maximum cash from every release full stop.

[@ArrowValley]

There should be an option on console to turn off micro transactions under parental control.

[@literaltruth]

That option exists. On PS4 you password protect your account and set up a child account for your kids. By default, a child had a spending limit of "0", meaning they can't make any purchases while logged into that account but can still play all games and media installed on the system (unless it's got an age rating higher than the one you set when you set up the account). If you want to let them spend a little money you can give your child account a monthly spending allowance (you still get an email every time they use some of their allowance). I'd imagine XBone and Switch are similar.

[@virvno6130]

@@literaltruth The real question is: How many parents know that those features exist and how to access them?

[@GameQuitters]

agree 100%

[@Sniperbear13]

@@ctb3335 that would be the ideal. but lets be real here, that's not gonna happen.

[@sharkofjoy]

I want an option to TURN THEM OFF. I don't want to disable the ability to purchase the things, where you just grey out the "BUY NOW AND GET 33% MORE BLUE DIAMONDS" while still dealing with aggressive in game advertising, still having the store fronts, needing to go into purchase opportunities to use built-in game functionality, which is merely alongside the shiny casino shit.... I want an option to turn it OFF. Give me the versions sold in regions where this sort of thing is forbidden.

[@magnus1383]

That level designer thing is like attacking the designer of a book cover for the pricing.

[@thunderreef]

Btw, why are they still called MICROtransactions and not MACROtransactions. Sure 2-3€ are pretty minor. But since most AAA games let you buy currency for 99.99€ or so ,i wouldnt call that micro anymore. (Yes, the crap you can buy is mostly something "worth" 100-500 currency (1-5€) but there are often enough shitstains that cost 2000 currency or more (20€)) just a thought

[@SerMattzio]

Heck look at Fallout 76. "Hey guys, only $20, the price of a full indie videogame, FOR BLUE PAINT ON YOUR ARMOUR! Blue paint that was free in the last game! LOL!" Definition of a macrotransaction. Some blue paint should not be worth $20. It shouldn't cost anything at all. The dated terminology is the perfect example of how the industry escalates things slowly over years and people don't catch on.

[@thunderreef]

@@SerMattzio exactly what I mean. Its disgusting.

[@bulock3]

MACROTRANSACTIONS!

[@realzachfluke1]

EXACTLY. THIS.

[@realzachfluke1]

SerMattzio it’s still fucking priced like that. 18 fucking dollars for a vault-tec power armor *paint skin*. The game is between 20 and 30 bucks depending on where you get it. What in the *_FUCK_*?!

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

9:50 i wish reviewers would put : "THIS DEVELOPER IS KNOWN FOR FORCING IN MONEY MAKING SCHEMES VIA MANDATORY PATCH AFTER GAME RELEASE" their reviews

[@greenhowie]

You just need a bingo card graphic that has various scummy practices and generic scandals for each game review. Yes, EA would fill most of the card.

[@aleksandrpetrosyan1140]

That actually happened. TotalBiscuit (RIP) gave Bioware a shitload of flak for the On-Disk DLC.

[@troyjardine5850]

If reviewers did than then these publishers would blacklist them

[@NatrajChaturvedi]

Lol this would be perfect. The print media is too diplomatic and/or sympathetic towards to the industry but ppl on KZbin who review games should certainly do this. Guys like ACG, skillup etc etc

[@aleksandrpetrosyan1140]

@@troyjardine5850 Not sure I'd trust a reviewer not blacklisted by bughtesda

[@fallingcurse9208]

at this point, i'm already playing mostly indie and old games...

[@joelsweeney4024]

Been doing that for years now, Bethesda used to be one of the only AAA I followed, now I'm pretty sure IV bailed on their future development

[@altanic5855]

Yup. Until these companies sort their shit out I'm not dropping a dime. Honestly, some of these indie games are better than recent AAA releases. Have you seen the new Wolfenstein? It looks like a shiny asset flip.

[@Ckoz2829]

Curze Me too. I’m playing through Super Mario Sunshine for the first time and also the expansions of classic Doom. Haven’t gotten to Plutonia Experiment yet, but TNT Evilution is kicking my ass!

[@Ragnarok540]

Same here. I have plenty of games to finish, and none of them is a "live service".

[@odinstorm17]

Or sony or nintendo games

[@timbonetonight.4416]

How can the Triple A industry get any worse? ESA: Hold our data info.

[@NathanCassidy721]

More like “Wait, where I put my data again?”

[@ghb323]

If companies were to update the game in *any* shape or form and not just microtransactions at a later date, companies can essentially bypass the ESRB rating for physical copies that were on *any* rating. Imagine if a game was rated safe for toddlers, then a month later, introduces gore.

[@chasekelloggbyron1412]

EXACTLY.

[@hoodedman6579]

That would never happen because it would never make them any money; in general, such a concern doesn't really matter and isn't likely to happen, except for a case in which they could add something to make more money like microtransations.

[@zombified_pariah7720]

That would be badass and HILARIOUS! X'D

[@sorryifoldcomment8596]

@@hoodedman6579 exactly...whether or not these companies hurt children depends on how much money they can make. If you seriously think you can say "yes your child is safe...as long as this predator doesn't benefit from hurting them" is satisfactory, it's not. This is literally why government regulations exist. Humans come above profit. Humans come above profit. Especially children come before profit. The ESRB is the evidence they give to support this, the only evidence. The wall between the children and the wolves. We see the wall is being compromised, so the response is..."your children are too small to be much of a meal anyways!" fuck that, we can do better. And the fact that people are desperately defending the wall falling, and not demanding the wall be built better, tells me you know it as well as I do...these pigs will not shape up without the government getting involved. That wall built and maintained by them is total crap and you know that it will never not be used by the wolves. We need to build one from scratch, by us. For the children to actually be protected, the government needs to get involved... just as it did in the 80s and 90s in the TV industry (which ended up saving children's entertainment and saving art). This is inconvenient though, so yeah screw standards, screw kids, our society, screw humans, screw art.

[@thehoodybadger3402]

Paying money to get ahead instead of literally playing the game the way it's mechanics normally work. It's like the rich are attempting to normalize the very same practices they follow in real life 🤔

[@zensoredparagonbytes3985]

You don't know how much you hit the nail on its head

[@megaman37456]

I remember a time when being good at games required genuine skill, back before the dark times, before Microtransactions infested the industry like the plague they are.

[@levianjenkins9447]

underrated comment.

[@Raletia]

Only problem is, as Jim has said, many times, you don't even get normal mechanics anymore, you get drawn out grindy, mindfucking mechanics to make you feel more forced. And since cheats are a thing everything has to be online and account based for single player games.

[@zensoredparagonbytes3985]

@Analyzing Male Slavery do you think it's possible that if someone spends a lot of money on in-game items that person will be assisted with, I don't know aimbots maybe, to keep him happy and spending on the game? Ever thought about that? If they're scummy enough to put gambling in games to keep you spending why wouldn't they rig other things too. They have throttled progression before so what's left to keep people spending?

[@aryaadityapurbadi5527]

"But... but... but... games are too expensive to make. Imagine making games with no money and no resources at all. That's why microtransaction is needed to get their moneys back." Said every AAA apologists on the internet.

[@blasterman1000]

Ignoring the fact that so much of the money is diverted to advertising. I mean, do what Payday did and just give out some keys and let it travel from word of mouth. If you're game is good, it'll advertise itself- oh, wait. The games have to be *good* for that. Not only that, but it doesn't keep the devs alive, just the ceo.

[@Helmic]

the only way to possibly get money, ever, is microtransactions. movies do not exist, for they lack a real microtransaction model and therefore clearly cannot be profitable.

[@shadow3675]

You know you think with cdrprojects square enix and dev's who make games that are good and don't have this bs they know its nothing but a lie.

[@supersmashbro596]

it sucks ctrnf is a good game, but they couldn't resist. they just couldnt. *fucking.* resist. for once and be content with just selling the game.

[@RMJ1984]

They keep saying that games are more expensive to make. yet they refuse to prove it. Surely it would be simple to prove..

[@timeomnivore]

"Player Choice"/"Optional" means it should be in an options menu - not on a storefront. "Cosmetics" should be unlockable in-game, whether by challenges, achievements, secrets, completion, or whatever - not on a storefront. The fact that many, many people continue to defend these absurd practices is just pitiful at this point; these people have altogether forgotten the days when this bullshit didn't exist and what we're now supposed to pay for used to be included in the game itself be default. The boundaries for what is/isn't acceptable have gotten pushed so often that what was once unthinkable is now standard. And that's just sad. What's even worse, however, is that I truly don't think we'll ever go back to those days - at least not games published by the AAA game industry.

[@jvccr7533]

at least you still get the player choice not to buy them. wait for them to attempt to take that away as well.

[@sirjmo]

@@jvccr7533 I'd like player choice to not see the store through an option then.

[@Mernom]

@@jvccr7533 considering how in some places their tax rate is negative, even that's not enough to keep your money out of their hands in some places.

[@akmal94ibrahim]

Player choice used to be cheatcodes. Now it's player's choice to spend money on things that costs us almost nothing to make.

[@ParasiteDelta]

The sad part is that many of these idiots that defend such practices are the modern "gamers"; the ones born post-2000, who are so careless and casually invested that they just shrug and come up with one of the common bullshit justifications for almost anything, i.e. "they have to make money somehow", "game development is expensive", "it's optional, quit your bitching", etc.

[@TheTrueDiablix]

One correction to your opening segment. It wasn't "hours" after the breach was discovered. It was months after the breach was discovered and they'd been told about it repeatedly throughout the course of those months and they very actively ignored everyone telling them about it.

[@TomberryPlays]

In game purchases and "gambling" is so ethical and not predatory we hide the fact it's in our game because it helps us prey on people's money easier... I mean give the players choice.

[@lulul0l039]

Yes, it's what any devil and demon should do, dood

[@AlcorSolaire]

I’ve got to admit Jim, I’m getting sick and tired of you going on and on about this. It’s time the AAA game industry makes it so you don’t have to anymore.

[@FelisImpurrator]

You had us in the first half, not gonna lie.

[@megaman37456]

Wait are we not revolting yet? " *Puts Down Halo AR and Sniper Rifle* "

[@jong2359]

@Greig91 the cosmetic crowd is legion... it is amazing how so many people enjoy eating shit sandwiches because they were told that shit sandwiches were tasty and nutritious.

[@WastedPot]

Puts down AR and sniper rifle req pack you mean?

[@observingtheq8810]

So you want some company to hire a hitman, then? That's probably the only way they would be willing to do it.

[@lwaves]

The first rule of AAA game buying is: Assume there will be microtransactions. The second rule of AAA game buying is: Assume THERE WILL BE microtransactions.

[@MatrixExpress]

Some of you have not been observing the first rule

[@Celeste-hu5vg]

@William T yes

[@joluoto]

@William T Definitely

[@KhayJayArt]

There should be a law stating that in app purchases can't be added to a game after launch, that way the rating will be more accurate.

[@lwaves]

@William T What the other two said. Yes, Definitely. Absolutely. Make no exception.

[@claireity8490]

Speaking as someone who deals with GDPR on a regular basis, I work for the hotel industry internationally, this is absolutely GDPR violating.

[@HydratedBeans]

I wish we had the GDPR in the US :(

[@Wolfun1t]

What does this have to do with personal data?

[@ahniandfriends123]

@Nathan-DTS the US had COPPA though. That law is why many social media sites require users to be 13 years or older before they can make an account there. That law was meant to protect children from aggressive targeted advertisements. Though with Jake Paul using his "Buy dat merch" method in KZbin videos and several shady things going on in the KZbin Kids section, I wouldn't be surprised if people started collecting personal information from kids under the government's nose.

[@JamesV1]

@@Wolfun1t You don't see how a breach of personal data has anything to do with personal data?

[@Wolfun1t]

@@JamesV1 My apologies, it didn't occur to me we were talking about the intro with the ESA, OP merely said "this" so I got confused and thought we were talking about the video's main focus, adding microtransactions in videogames after the fact.

[@kriskropd]

So now we can't just pre-order, but we can't post-order either - not until the game is a year old or so. Guess this is even more reason to just wait for the game to go on 75% discount before buying.

[@therealbahamut]

Best part of Steam is the sales, yeah? Any game is a good deal when it's 50% off and you have the willpower to ignore the MTX...well, ALMOST any games...

[@flaviohaggis4817]

isn't it the standard thing to do ?

[@Rurike]

I mean you were wanting to do that anyway since a year past release is when the game actually finishes being made now days

[@FrenziedRoach]

TRUTH!

[@Xondar11223344]

Some games add in microtransactions years after launch. For example, Two Worlds II was released in 2011, and the publisher decided to add microtransactions in 2017! The worst part was that Two Worlds II is a buggy mess, so you need the in-game console to fix game breaking bugs. The stupid company, Topware Interactive ACE, removed the console so people couldn't put in cheat codes so they could sell their pathetic microtransactions.

[@forbiddenwar45]

I see it now. A system that locks the game after 20 hours and demands an additional fee to continue playing. Maybe phrase it as a choice. You can delete your saved games and start over, or pay just $5 and keep playing. Looking forward to it in Elder Scrolls 6.

[@FallingPicturesProductions]

THis is scary to think about, and worse of all I can see it happening

[@Playbahnosh]

Oh they've been doing this for years. It started in mobile games, where they put arbitrary timers on everything. It's barely noticable at first, a few seconds and then minutes, but it gets hugely infuriating as you progress and have to wait literal hours or days to play the game you already paid for. But _luckily_ you can spend premium currency to skip the timers, pay more and more the further along you are. It's like cooking a frog, you throw in hot water it jumps out, but if you gradually increase the heat, it will sit there and be cooked.

[@iglidor]

@@Playbahnosh Funny thing is, frogs will actualy try run away when water gets too hot for them. The one experiment where frog did not try to escape and was boiled alive was when its brain was removed firsthand

[@samanthaclyde8688]

Oh, you know, Kunami... sorry, FucKunami wanted you to pay an extra 10€ for a save slot in Metal Gear Survive. Activison wanted you to pay 0,99€ for a single red dot in their shooter game. I don't know if those mtx are still in these games but the fact that they implemented them in the 1st place, show us how far they're ready to go, how low they're ready to stoop. Actually, I'm afraid this is just the beginning: they're trying obnoxious methods, knowing players will negatively react and then they propose new mtx that appear much more harmless in comparaison and therefore much more acceptable. And voila! We're fucked.

[@EnaiSiaion]

Bethesda added pay to win microtransactions to Skyrim 6 years after launch and people bought them.

[@KittyKatty999]

It's Fallout 76 all over again...Except worse...*MUCH WORSE...* I respect you a lot for covering all of this, and constantly fighting a battle for a greater future. I especially love how you called out everyone who abused that developer, using logic, instead of blind fury. Keep up the great work, Jim! :D

[@Edzter]

I watch at a game like terraria updating the game years after release for FREE when the game has been 75% off for ages and costs next to nothing "how can they afford it?" Watching AAA games adding MTX saying 'games are too expensive" and DLC the price of another video game "how can they not afford it?"

[@wallywest4727]

Look at No Man's Sky, 3 years later we are getting a massive update what will include VR support and MMO features and it costs nothing. People can hate on HG or the game but they have never asked for a penny more then what ever the game cost you, every single update has been free and not once has paid content been introduced. The game now is pretty much No Man's Sky 2 and its all been free.

[@hochmeisterr]

​@@wallywest4727 Cost nothing? that Piece of shit sean murray already got enough money and you want him to get more

[@LadyUsakoB]

@@FiendMatadorSlayerOfNoobs It is amazing! I love it! Now i need to back to it :D

[@elusivemindsstudios]

Keiron Smith all things that should have been in the ya know...finished game on release. Don’t excuse shitty developers deceiving the consumers, that’s exactly what they did. If it didn’t become a shit show you would have never got all those free “updates”. They aren’t updates it’s shit that should have been our day one.

[@schnarfschnarf5886]

@@hochmeisterr slow down bub

[@stevenshipway9033]

remember when devs released a full-fledged game, then offered decent batch of addons to the game as expansion packs? That was great, can we go back to that as monetization schemes please?

[@Hillthugsta]

2008?

[@NickBLeaveIt]

Days Gone is literally that.

[@DeadlyYellow]

People throw a fit over those as well. Take a gander at Iceborne and you'll find a handful calling Capcom worse than EA.

[@ErdnußRiegel6969]

Prefer 1000 dlcs

[@Hillthugsta]

@@DeadlyYellow Seriously?! Those people are assholes.

[@TheRealToaster2]

How to solve this issue: “...But due to he company’s track record expect microtransactions to be patched in later on; these may include loot boxes, cosmetics, and consumables that aid in gameplay.” - A game reviewer during his review. Reviewers should be proactively mentioning microtransactions in games that have untrustworthy publishers.

[@bunnybreaker]

Go further. Rate the games lower until they've been out for a year and only *then* give the "full" rating if microtransactions haven't been added.

[@Ckoz2829]

bunnybreaker By that point, the damage is done. It would be unfair to rate a game lower on the assumption that microtransactions may be added. A little addendum to the review would work just fine. That way, you’re not punishing a developer/publisher for something they haven’t done. That’s like a cop arresting someone because they think they’re gonna commit a crime.

[@smeltedfist4917]

@@Ckoz2829 What if the officer knew he had a bad track record?

[@jotabeas22]

@@smeltedfist4917 it would still be against most nation's laws and common sense, plus ethics. Nobody should do that. Same reason giving a low rating just because "they may add microtransactions" is wrong. What should be done is, as heading and closing, write a statement considering the publisher's history. If the game doesn't add them you remove it, if it does add them you expand on the statement and tell everyone about the addition of micropayments. And give it a lower rating. Anyway, it's not like people really care about reviews that much if anything at all.

[@bunnybreaker]

@@Ckoz2829 In principle I fully agree with you, but it's clear these publishers are adding them in later specifically to avoid the initial reaction to the game. Given that, I *don't* think it's unfair to assume prior behaviour will be repeated and to factor that into the rating a reviewer gives.

[@jimmythornseed8605]

Had to stop the video, put down my pizza, and comment about how much I liked "retroactively adding the bollocks in." That's quality prose.

[@DevyOats]

I completely agree with not going after the developers that have nothing to do with the monetization. It's like talking down to a cashier for the company's prices, shitty practices, or issue with the system. (I also know this from first-hand experience, being a cashier myself) It just hurts the employee mentally, which can lead to physical pain if severe enough. Though, on the comment of "going after the worker does nothing", I'd say that it actually DOES do something. Not for the employee or the customer, but for the corporation. They let the worker take the hit, be the punching bag, and be the "face" to yell at while they "get away with it". And, depending on the situation, they can swoop in and play the victim, on behalf of the employee. This then adds to the point of keeping customers confused, as now they are "both the good and the bad", and it can help them with PR; possibly even using it as ammo to discredit the complaints or issues.

[@RobinNicoagain]

I am very angry about this. I have history of gambling issues and I know that it will be my weakness forever. That's why I avoid all games that has microtransactions and lootboxes so it wouldn't become an issue again. So I can play games safe. I bought CTR at launch and now I am scared to open the game again. I love the game and I have huge temptetation to buy the costumes. It doesn't help that npcs already wear them. Why they had to do this?! >_

[@clearspira]

My two cents: delete the game, buy a PS1/PS2 and an old copy of CTR off ebay.

[@sayaneechan5799]

I feel for you :( It’s sad what the game industry is becoming.

[@alexeagleston5618]

Someone Somewhere Write them. Tell them about how they betrayed your trust. It’s small, but hopefully someone will read it. And if not them, tell it to others. And then get yourself a copy of the original game.

[@FallingPicturesProductions]

Why did they have to do this? Because they are looking to take advantage of YOU and people like YOU. They see you only as potential cash cows and will use any weakness you may have against you.

[@jayzell3687]

Sorry to hear that man, it sucks they turned a game you really liked and felt comfortable with into something that doesn’t feel healthy for you to play. Hope you can find something that you enjoy playing just as much that doesn’t feel as predatory as CTR has become

[@Shad809]

Wait, isn't adding "In-Game Purchases" to a game after it gets officially rated by the ESRB illegal? Like adding "Blood & Gore" to an E rated game after it's been released?

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

I guess it doesnt matter until the ESRB re evaluates the game? I do agree it should be illegal though.

[@SidheKnight]

Illegal? Nope. The ESRB is not a government organization. It's an industry self-regulatory institution (precisely to avoid the government getting involved). But like Jim said, if the industry doesn't take serious action to self-regultate the lootbox/MTX/gambling stuff, the government WILL get involved, In fact, that's already happening in many parts of the world (with little success so far). That's where we got the term "Surprise Mechanics".

[@LupineShadowOmega]

@@SidheKnight yep, its why I've always called him the Cassandra of Video Games, because he said that if they keep pulling this crap, the government is going to start looking into it again and he keeps being right more and more.

[@ramennoodles5311]

It's not illegal in this case because it was in the TOS that everyone agreed to before going online.

[@bernardoheusi6146]

You aren´t forced to buy in-game purchases. It really is that simple.

[@gaynebula6439]

I have BPD, and entailed in that is a host of impulsivity issues. I appreciate so much that you've outlined the systemic saneist exploitation built into microtransactions. This information has likely saved me from falling down addiction rabbit holes I can't afford. Please don't ever stop banging this drum. Thank god for Jim Sterling.

[@arielmoon4021]

Yeah, the hell of resisting impulsive purchases in what is supposed to be your escapism is ridiculous. I have BPD as well and I frequently purchase things in game on impulse thinking "itll make me feel better, I'll deal with the stress of having spent that money later"; and this is definitely something that AAA game devs are aware of and taking advantage of. It's kind of ironic how knowledge and understanding of mental illness is at an all time high but so are exploitative manipulation techniques designed to specifically target psychologically vulnerable folks.

[@drumd00d]

"E3 committed DISGUSTING acts!" *carnival music playing in the background

[@kasPWI]

drumd00d specifically Darkseed 2 carnival music

[@TheGodEmperorOfMankind_]

They aren't clowns, they are the entire circus

[@ZelosZalis]

been seeing alot of darkwing duck pics in the quisition lately, wonder if Jim caught wind of the reboot and one of the characters being named "Jim Starling"

[@ComradeQuagsire]

To whoever put sticky notes on CTR to warn people about MTX, o7 keep up the good work

[@wesleyfravel5149]

ThePS1Fan god bless that person, whoever they are o7

[@blueblur98]

took me a bit to realize the o7 thing was a salute lol

[@FabledEmperor]

It was jim himself thank god for him

[@TheTroutkitty]

How is not labelling a product correctly not grounds for a huge class-action lawsuit by anyone who feels mislead or vulnerable to gambling mechanics?

[@chasekelloggbyron1412]

EXACTLY.

[@inciaradible7144]

I just do not understand how this is legal; the product is fundamentally altered in the way that it functions.

[@ReachStudioPro]

+GrandmistressD Many laws are extremely outdated in today's society. That's why. It's gonna continue to look like this for hundreds of years at this rate.

[@crazyinsane500]

A lot of oversight organizations like the US Federal Trade Commission generally employ people who still consider videogames to be "kids toys" and thus they won't be concerned about them until they break major news headlines. Kinda like that baby-toy deathtrap that almost scalped a bunch of kids because it ate their hair. It was an obvious percievable flaw, but organizations only acted after harm made national headlines, not when it was first reported to them. Basically, the people responsible for enforcing our laws are inept and lazy.

[@Archangelm127]

"Law" has nothing to do with "right" or "justice" or anything silly like that. The day you truly understand that in your heart of hearts, a piece of your soul will die. Let me tell you, it hurts.

[@thefool8224]

I've altered the deal, pray that i don't alter it further

[@xdevantx5870]

This kind of activity will qualify you for a full refund on Steam FYI. After a patch rendered a game of mine unplayable on my system, I asked for a refund and received it despite having over 20 hours logged in the game and owning it for more than a couple of weeks.

[@eurosonly]

Game includes MTX Let's blame the level designer Primitive logic never seizes to amaze me

[@CommanderGumball]

Is that intro.... A guy beating someone else with a dead horse? Apropos.

[@Lex-dw7ng]

Nah. Its jason-X beating a (holographic) topless teen stuffed in a sleeping bag to death with another (holographic) topless teen on a holodeck. It's as great as it sounds.

[@JacobMcBaggins]

@@Lex-dw7ng That movie is amazing.

[@mrtalos]

Hmm maybe the ESRB should start issuing fines. Oh sorry, my mistake, they are a toothless organisation.

[@hoodedman6579]

They aren't a government organization; would they be able to issue fines?

[@uckfayooglegay9982]

Hooded Man Non-government organisations can give fines, look at sports organisations. The ESRB could refuse to rate any further games from a Publisher until they paid a fine which would fuck with their retail sales.

[@thechugg4372]

Fines wouldn't be enough, or something like publishers need to pay 20% of the microtransactions earnings every month

[@mrtalos]

@@thechugg4372 they would have to start paying taxes first

[@rashidisw]

The real way for ESRB or any rating board to issuing fines is for consumers to Actively sues said rating board for 'mislabelling' due to publisher actions. Only when ESRB or any rating board starting to lose profit because of legal cases only then they would considering to fines the game publishers that changes the game's content that warrant changes to issued rating. Most countries allow you to sue if you discover labeling on food you purchases didn't match, thus similar thing should be heavily uses during the legal case.

[@blockyoxwinkle5829]

This is the greatest proponent for video game regulation. Imagine if I buy a game for my kid at launch, I don't want him subject to the predatory microtansactions. So I buy the game after doing my research. And then they add microtansactions and I as a parent might not notice until he's somehow spent 200$ in shit. Adding them post launch should make the game recalled. Remember when people lost their minds over 2 cardboard boxes spamming into each other in GTA San Andreas

[@PalmliX]

I'm not sure regulation is even needed, just do what I and scores of others are doing now, not buying these games in the first place. It's the easiest and most effective way to make these publishers take notice.

[@dddmemaybe]

@@PalmliX why would they take that seriously when they can just feast off of their cows harder and harder for quite a while. If needed, they can crawl lower and find more things to manipulate and take from their target-market. They will be hit by laws eventually, die or change, but who will be their play-thing and revenue source until that time comes? You can't solve everything just by waiting, the world is too big and life isn't something that these people will have forever. They can get the best they can get now, either at someones expense or their own expense. It's ok to say that bad things will end eventually but you shouldn't say people should accept "true"(if you are of moralness) injustice if they feel otherwise. Truth being the more important keyword than justice of course lol.

[@blockyoxwinkle5829]

Adam Palmer won't stop em, I already don't buy any of their games for more than 5$. But the go to response when a kid spends thousands of $ is always why weren't the parents being careful, and now we have situations where a parent could be swindled after doing their research

[@TurtleRhythm]

Them: "Optional in game purchases" Me: Optional purchase of your game that contains microtransactions/ microtransactions that get added in later

[@Selcryn]

Sensible Gamers: Optional purchase of your game. Ever.

[@nickclark1815]

It's player manipulation, it's just costumes behind a pay/luck wall.

[@benjaminshinar9509]

seems like the ESRB label should be the key, imagine if you bought an E game,and then an update would change the game to M rating, you know that the moral guardians would be all over the industry and the companies would be racing to refund the customers. it should be the same thing, if the game rating changed due to an update. you should be able to return it, no matter how much time passed. give me back my sixty dollars, i'm going to spend them on a game that doesn't treat me like shit.

[@SavageGreywolf]

Reviewers should fight fire with fire. All reviews are posted online these days. If the greedy corporate pigs are going to 'patch' their game with predatory microtransactions, well. Reviewers should 'patch' their reviews. To a 0/10. I've long said this should be the norm for dealing with games companies that blacklist honest reviewers for having unfavorable opinions to boost Metacritic scores and sell broken shit with massive day 1 patches on corporate lies. Those games should just get a 0/10, and the review can receive a "Day 1 patch" to remedy the abysmal score if, for some reason, it deserves higher than that. Tanking a metacritic score afterwards may seem like it's too late for the majority of people who have bought the game, but if it can prevent further purchases of the game based on inaccuracies, it's worth doing. And the games industry will definitely notice their metacritic scores clanking against the bottom of the toilet bowl like the gigantic turds their games are. That _will_ cut into their bottom line. Also the ESRB should make loot box monetization receive an AO rating. Then they can just Hot Coffee any game that patches them in.

[@CodecrafterArtemis]

The reviewers certainly can "patch" their reviews, but what's the point?

[@GameChronicles]

SavageGreywolf Metacritic only uses your day one score. If you change your review score later it won’t change on MC.

[@1337GameDev]

They won't update their review. Reviews are put out to get views and audience. who's going to revisit a game review they saw / one that's old, when NEW reviews for NEW games are out, and NOT a month old game? They won't update old reviews, because... newness. Newness drives eyes, views, and audience. Until THAT changes, reviews won't change.

[@ooooneeee]

The only way to get metacritic to use an updated score is to boot give the game a score until way after the release. The first score you give them they use and won't change it. This needs to change, though they'd have to come up with rules to prevent abuse.

[@imo098765]

@@1337GameDev SkillUp destroyed Black Ops when they added the microtransactions I think he removed his review of it too but thats too late it to stop the majority of people that play CoD from buying it anyway

[@CommieApe]

List of each and every reason microtransactions are in Video Games: Money.

[@ericsbuds]

more importantly, profit

[@Archangelm127]

You forgot money, money, and money. Oh, and money! Do your research :P

[@barrettbirks1058]

and why is that wrong?

[@leadbones]

@@barrettbirks1058 everybody know the shitty Libertarian "companies exist to make money" argument. It's worthless and pathetic. So the fuck what? Are you the company? No you are not. You are the customer. So basically, you are saying that you exist to give money to companies. How fucking sad is that? So brainwashed that you believe companies exist solely to create profit, you and those like you have relieved these companies of the responsibilty of providing a complete, finished product or service. Have some fucking self respect and stop acting like something unnecessary, something with ZERO benefit to the customer or the software, something that exists solely to increase your spending and decrease the value of gameplay is somehow not a problem. You pathetic shitstain.

[@silverdamascus2023]

At first, they had a good excuses, in free games, money needs to come from somewhere, and it's thanks to people spending money in expensive skins and painted weapons that don't change gameplay, that everyone can have the content that matters for free. But of course, good excuses slippery slope into terrible consequences, and not only games that already cost $60 having them, we get Loot Boxes.

[@THEMAJOROFSHAKE]

I like how Jim's Boglins jiggle their little hands when Jim smashes onto his podium

[@theblackbaron4119]

Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle

[@user-kw5gt4fj9r]

It’s a lectern not a podium

[@Darkreaper800]

False! It is a altar to Jim's majesty!

[@THEMAJOROFSHAKE]

@@user-kw5gt4fj9r Oh olright

[@theblackbaron4119]

@@Darkreaper800 Thank me, for Jim

[@vincentresciniti4824]

I remember when there was no online features in games. You went to the store, bought a disk copy, threw that puppy in your console or PC, and.... played the game the developers made. No day 1 patches, no updates, no mtx. Just a game to play and any bugs/glitches in the game you had to just deal with it. The best days in gaming are behind us and that is the reality.

[@ryllian1]

Don't forget street fighter.

[@shinobixa4]

@@ryllian1 Yep. I remember playing the crap out of Alpha 3.

[@siloPIRATE]

I remember. Just about

[@CountPenta]

There'll soon be laws against this. And those laws will make it difficult for everybody non-sleazy.

[@thesaladman8400]

Wait, Yahtzee attended E3, guess they found his browser history.

[@goldencyclone4984]

Yeah, I had heard this before but only just now put it together that Yahtzee was there on behalf of Escapist.

[@thesaladman8400]

@@goldencyclone4984 True

[@phodon129]

Joke's on them, it's just Chains of Love on repeat.

[@CaffineArtist]

All that dolphin porn

[@04whim]

Even in the event he isn't in any kind of meaningful danger, the man clearly values his privacy and the disconnect between his professional and personal lives. If even one person showed up at his door, even in a fan capacity, he could very well nuke his entire career to get away from that.

[@toddbot7545]

But Jim. How are companies like us supposed to do bug fixes without the extra millions of dollars that executives like myself get?

[@ChiefMedicPururu]

Lol.

[@Jun123]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@markcobuzzi826]

🎶 It just works, it just works Little lies, stunning shows People buy, money flows, it just works It just works, it just works Overpriced open worlds Earning rise, take my word It just works It just works It just works It just works 🎶

[@geneg.2055]

F

[@MatrixExpress]

Todd Howard Fuck off you twat

[@HiltownJoe]

Ok simple Idea. Force Publishers to give full price refunds for Games that changed ratings after purchase. If i buy animal crossing for my child and it turns into Happy Tree Friends after a month, you should not be allowed to keep my money.

[@plaguemarine7767]

But in thst example it got infinitely better

[@chasekelloggbyron1412]

EXACTLY.

[@HiSodiumContent]

I get the example, the ratings went from E to M, another good example is "I bought Hello Kitty and three months after launch it turned into Nekopara."

[@marcossonicracer]

I bought CTR and 3 months later it turned into Carmageddon. honestly, i would prefer CTR turn into Carmageddon than Microtransactions happened into the game.

[@Rioshi11]

2K games hired men in suits to go to KZbinr SupMatto's house to threaten and interrogate him for game info they leaked publicly, then got Discord to shut down his account and server. Is it possible to report on this?

[@Matthew0606X1999]

I was so hurt when CTR got microtransactions as it was a great remake of a classic game, and to aim it at kids was diabolical. I been tweeting crazy on removing those MTX on this game.

[@StarrChild.]

If they added in microtransactions and gambling in after they got their rating, they should face legal action. Fair due they may correct the rating digitally but as you said, the game has already been purchased. By that logic a child friendly E rated game could launch on the switch and sell to loads of households on it's release. Then a month after they launch an update to the game and just add in a bunch of gore, torture and porn scenes. The rating might be changed online but any kid playing the game would have seen it, the damage has been done.

[@jubuttib]

As many others have pointed out, ESRB isn't a government organization, the game business itself came up with it to prevent government taking too much of an interest. They have no legal authority over anything in this.

[@bunnybreaker]

@@jubuttib This whole thing clearly highlights the problem with that.

[@zacharyheine4177]

Would that become 'misleading labelling' at that point?

[@jubuttib]

@@bunnybreaker For sure.

[@coreydraper6661]

Remember when games came out fully finished, no dlc? Those were the good ol days.

[@ProjectChaos77]

Corey Draper Yeah, back in the ps2 and original Xbox days.

[@FiendMatadorSlayerOfNoobs]

Or when good, proper, long expansions came out with no extra paid content and even FREE updates. Like Monster Hunter World and it's upcoming expansion: Iceborne. Which might be a slippery slope for some, I must admit.

[@NickBLeaveIt]

Left Behind and Undead Nightmare are proof that people hating on all DLC are full of shit.

[@vividBloodsucker]

A fallacy, most games have to cut out content because of time restraints... This usually isn't a problem but at times can lead to a game being blatantly unfinished or even unplayable...

[@gmann215]

@@vividBloodsucker Hollow Knight had free expansions, and Terraria is fairly close to releasing its final big update.

[@officialmcdeath]

So next year's E3 will just be a Devolver Digital stream premiere - can’t wait! \m/

[@iwiffitthitotonacc4673]

@Jamel Rudd shut up jamal

[@Haan22]

Best E3 ever.

[@someonetgg]

Devolver Digital are the CDPR of indie game publishers.

[@greenhowie]

@Jamel Rudd Oh Jamal! You and your extreme, off the wall humor! Why would you say something so controversial, yet so brave? What. A. Fucking. Wildcard.

[@mrcraggle]

It practically writes itself.

[@WNDDuP]

Basically every gaming companies theme song: "It's the circle of lies!!!" 1. Lure cash cows and reviewers into the game with sweet nothings. 2. Wait for praise to be given. 3. Patch in the Loot boxes and Microtransactions. 4. Sit back and enjoy the flow of money without caring about the backlash. 5. Fakely apologies. 6. ...and repeat.

[@Superboologan1]

Imagine if Pepsi put out a new soda and got the ingredients list okay'd by the FDA, but added alcohol to the formula after the fact.

[@Sonic62920]

I would say that I'm irrationally angry, but I think my rage is quite rational.

[@s-clone8964]

Good to see the ESA wasn't overlooked given the sh!t that's happened over the last couple of days 'cause they definitely should be facing some repercussions.

[@Cumbercuke]

I won't buy a game without "Comic Mischief" on the back. It's my favorite genre.

[@greenhowie]

It's what's for dinner.

[@PumpkinSwag]

I don’t let my children buy games with Comic Mischief on the back. I’m worried game that have that will make my kids mischievous.

[@AlwaysANemesis]

Welp, this was a long time coming. *Time to put on the pirate hat finally.*

[@iamlucidess]

Welcome to the Club. Yarrr!

[@Spectacular_Insanity]

For me, it's picking up my cutlasses and eyepatch after putting them down. I haven't pirated games in years. I'm still in denial that the games industry has reverted back so much to make me want to pirate again.

[@AlwaysANemesis]

@@Spectacular_Insanity I still think people like CDPR are doing their best to combat that conception, and I respect the hell out of them for it. But as far as I'm concerned with these high-profile studios, fuck it; call it fraud, or whatever, but those cheapskates asked for it. They say it's impossible to prove that a person who pirates a game is a potential sale lost, as you can never be sure they were willing to buy the game to begin with. Lemme clear that up now: *Yes, I almost paid for this. And yes, I **_am_** a lost sale, due to their bullshit.*

[@charlx8979]

Yarrr har fiddle dee dee, you are a pirate and you get games for free!

[@AlwaysANemesis]

@@charlx8979 I mean, I'll still buy games from publishers I respect, and that is still the wide majority of them. But those who would pioneer the filth of this current market have permanently lost me as a paying customer.

[@maldon3659]

"Activision You promised these Gamers no Microtransactions, but all I see now is...Cheapy The Cheapskate!"

[@heyheyronn]

Your coverage in this issue as of late (especially considering Crash Team Racing!) has earned you a new subscriber. I can’t believe this kind of practice hasn’t been properly or successfully scrutinized in a legal forefront yet. This kind of sneaky bait-n-switch tactic HAS to be illegal.

[@piratczvojtapopovics]

How about we make some kind of law that will force game companies to either put in game purchases right away, or they either will be forbidden from doing so after it is launched? Kind of like, either they will put the in game purchases and microtransactions in it right away, or they just, won't be able to do it later. Or they could get some kind of GIANT fine for all the now mislabelled products.

[@WantEpicMusic]

Jim kinda touched on that in the video: the ESRB was created by the games industry as a way to self-regulate, because the US government started having a look at games. The industry basically promised to self-regulate with ESRB as a way to make the government stop looking into it, just in case the government decided on stronger measures. It's hilarious and sad to me that these AAA companies are now doing their darnedest to circumvent the ESRB ratings even though it's inevitably going to lead to government intervention as the ESRB is shown to fail for so many games.

[@Handlelesswithme]

Mainly because we do not make the laws and are not rich enough to have influence

[@piratczvojtapopovics]

@@WantEpicMusic All i can say is, god bless the indie developers that still have a heart of a gamer, and are not complete and utter assholes.

[@TheAhvila]

This age of gaming is a grim time for parents and people who don't know any better and ignorantly/inadvertently keep enabling these companies to continue microtransactionary-predatory practices

[@johnadams4283]

Has anyone tried to get a refund for a game after they added microtransactions like this? I'm curious how it went.

[@NeroThacher]

"I'm surprised you guys are still here" + 2-second related music clip = Comedy gold

[@NeroThacher]

I genuinely didn't hear any clacking from the mic

[@MachonyLeeoun]

it's from the old Doug on Nickelodeon

[@plutarcouranus4200]

And, the mainstream gaming news sites attacked the one who found it out

[@XDieKillDieX]

Yeah, poor Sophia is really getting slandered to hell.

[@nowonmetube]

@@XDieKillDieX Sophia? Getting attacked? What are you guys talking about? Context please!

[@SidheKnight]

@@nowonmetube They're talking about the E3 personal information leak, I think.

[@GELTONZ]

@@nowonmetube The woman who broke the story about the ESA information leak is getting slandered on gaming news sites. See, she was yelling at the ESA about this for weeks and waited to publish her story until AFTER the leak was taken down so no one would find the information. As it turns out, the ESA only removed the link to the leak (because it was seriously just a link on their website) and not the file itself so if you had an old link, the file was still up. So some in the games media are blaming HER for leaking their personal information due to her political background. The idea being "No one would have known about this if you hadn't published the story!"

[@JaviEnNz]

@@GELTONZ nah, she was asked by another journalist not to go public until they have taken down the file, but she didn't listen as all she had in mind was growing her youtube channel.

[@RazielIgor]

There is only one way left to avoid "future added in-game purchases", avoid buying games from companies that does it. A short list to avoid buying games from is as follows: 1) EA 2) Activision-Blizzard 3) Take-Two (Rockstar Games) 4) Zenimax (Bethesda) 5) Ubisoft

[@bunnybreaker]

This guy gets it.

[@RoyalFusilier]

That was my first thought. Welp, now even not having MTX in a game.... is no safeguard against still being confronted with them. So the only safeguard now is to not buy from companies that you think might do it.

[@zacharyheine4177]

I hope Doom Eternal is OK

[@RazielIgor]

@@zacharyheine4177 I wish that too, but it feels like "BATTLEMODE" will have mtx. I hope I'm wrong.

[@jvccr7533]

I think so far, while R* has started taking hits in the last few years for GTAV (fuck calling it gta online, same damn game, just an mp mode) and RDR2 (same story), that their games are still good enough for the majority that they get a pass. I hope that changes. The Big 5 though, oof. Or should we rather call them Pig 5? It'd be a fitting name.

[@NSG0079]

I couldn't hear any jangling during the outro, Jim. Maybe it was lost during the upload process *shrug*

[@notpointed]

Such a thing can highly depend on the type of audio output device someone is using. For example I'm using tall standing Teufel speakers. People using headphones are going to hear it much differently. And between brands of headphones there are yet other worlds of sound. Anyone on laptop speakers is gonna have a totally different experience once again. And I'm also someone who's very good at filtering out background noise. In many videos I don't even hear the music while the person talks so hearing the jangling is almost impossible for me unless someone tells me the precise seconds where it's happening.

[@ericlundquisthere]

THANK YOU for finally calling out Rocket League. I cannot stand the Rocket Pass/loot box monetization in that game.

[@jonathangarmuth8975]

It keeps the game updated and funds tournaments. It's one of the only games I don't care about having microtrasactions. It's 5 years old and was free on ps+. There is no way it would get the support it does without it. It's not a yearly release but I am worried what epic will do now that they bought the ip. I could see them destroying the game with sequels.

[@arleas]

We need another Video Game Crash.

[@inkblotCrisis]

This feels like reviews should be able to adjust their content since the game has been changed. They should also be made to recall all physical cases and adjust the label accordingly.

[@DetectiveBarricade]

Problem is it hardly matters to the folks who read it before the change and have since bought the game. And these publishers are cunning enough to make sure they sneak this shit in well after the usual return policy period has passed. (assuming your platform of choice even allows returns of digital purchases)

[@HandmadeGoose97]

I'm pretty sure Jason X Jason is just Jim Sterling in a Jason costume

[@isenokami7810]

AAA Industry: adds in micro transactions weeks after launch. ESRB: What the hell, man!?

[@ramonmolina9136]

You know a video is good when you watch it all the way thru the end just to find out you like the video one year ago. Thank you God for Jim.

[@spinyjustspiny3289]

Another thing that Activision's done with the CTR store is started using that age-old shop chestnut of "Have a sale, but also mark up the base price of the product so that the final price is barely any different, or in this case still far higher than, the actual selling price it would normally have to make it feel like a better deal."

[@Montesama314]

So in response to people becoming more aware of microtransactions and trying not to buy games with them, the triple A gaming industry is now HIDING them so you can't avoid them after you buy the game. Then you feel like you HAVE to pay for the stuff because you're hooked. There's your "surprise" mechanic.

[@gdwnet]

In Europe the ESA breach DOES breach the GPDR and they need to report it or they'll be in trouble.

[@Shadic4101]

If DMC5 can censor spoiler content for new players in story mode then companies should be able to have a "hide microtransaction stores" option in their games. ya know since they care soooo much about player's "options"

[@Aarzu]

As I've mentioned before, I'm beginning to think that stores that sell video games will need to start taking a lot of initiative and sort video games differently, putting games with micro transactions, loot boxes, etc. in their own sections. As well, consumers may need to really take the fight to the AAA development studios. This level of deception could warrant lawsuits and other legal action.

[@Phobias124]

I feel that the these games are not even meant to be games anymore. They are shops filled with garbage and there is a game attached to it. The game's soul reason to exist is to motivate you to purchase useless crap untill they release a new shop to sell you even more worthless garbage... It's sad because many of these "Games" have huge potential, if only they could focus on the game itself instead of turning them into shops full of nothing.

[@cw1424]

The irony in this is that the original game crash happened because game companies kept making games that we buggy, broken cash grabs, and a lot, not all, but a lot of the games coming out now from the AAA companies are just that. I guess some people never learn...

[@dyveira]

I love the trashcan full of Dynasty Warriors games during the intro. Poor Jim.

[@masochisticmeese3555]

The new COD game actually looks fun, and they've said they won't add lootboxes.. OMEGALUL

[@Tnargav]

And they are right, there will be no lootboxes just ... surprise mechanics ^^

[@Ownage4lif31]

Tnargav didn't they say this with mwr? We all know what happened there

[@mikethegrunty5968]

The sleeping bag kill from Jason X will never not be funny

[@Jilktube]

Mike White it took me a minute to realize that was from a horror film.

[@ryan489]

Mike White it’s not as funny without the added lines. I’ve seen a cut without them and it’s not as good

[@mikethegrunty5968]

ryan489 why would anyone do that? It’s the best part!

[@ryan489]

Mike White I don’t know but the version I last saw was online and it didn’t have the lines. It was weird

[@ChumblesMumbles]

Rocket League still sells for $20 on Steam, 4 full years after initial release, so there is no reason for it to include microtransactions as the studio is getting a healthy chunk of change for each new download.

[@YouPlague]

There's like millions of reasons, millions juicy reasons.

[@aeonremnant]

Replace the ESRB with a community elected "council" system that is legally required to be alerted whenever a game changes, this would allow news to get out *extremely* fast if dedicated channels were created with various social media websites. The benefit of such a system is that it's allowed to adapt much faster to changing industry trends if done correctly. An example: 100 members in a council, a vote is put up to decide if X is bad for the community as a whole and if it's passed in council it's then passed to community representatives that can gather the actual community consensus, not the 2% of people that actually do speak out, and if the community agrees, it becomes effective law within the industry. The same thing could happen in reverse, if the community dislikes something they can contact a group to bring it to council. Something along those lines. Honestly, the only people that should be allowed to police the system are people that live in the system.That's how law enforcement works, they live in the same cities we do, the same needs to happen here. Fuck the scumbags that currently sit on top, not only do we not need them, but they actively wound our community.