Today’s news that EA’s Dead Space 3 wants to charge you real money to top up your in-game currency (commonly seen in free-to-play games) might not surprise anyone in particular but it’s a telling route down a line that’ll see publishers increasing their long-tail revenue well beyond that first week spike.
But don’t expect Isaac’s latest romp to be the only game that’ll feature this brand new, exciting way to spend more money on games. There’ll be more. Many more. Next gen will be full of them, so let’s take a moment to joyfully speculate what those games – and the dreaded in-app purchases – might be. Might. Don’t get your pants in a twist.
RACING IN AT NUMBER FIVE is Gran Turismo 6. Polyphony’s latest, currently assumed to be next-gen but could very well end up on an iPhone, will have ‘realistic’ petrol levels and – as a result – will require IAP (in-app purchase) top-ups every few laps. Run out of petrol? It’s 69p a tank, Jimmy. But don’t flaunt the flashing yellow light – if you run out on the tarmac it’ll cost £1.99 to get the engine cleaned and that’ll take a week in real-time unless you buy the £4.99 time booster.
AT NUMBER FOUR IS UNCHARTED FOUR which is going to bleed you dry with IAP ammo supplies. Unlike EA’s interstellar escapades with Isaac and chum, Drake’s rather more down-to-earth setting won’t charge you for guns (you’ll find them on the ground safely at the feet of dispatched flaming zombie guys) but you and that omnipresent old guy with the ‘tash will need to stop off to buy ammo at shops – two quid a box of shotgun shells, Guv. Find yourself short in the jungle? You’ll need to pay for a crate drop, too. And they won’t be cheap.
NUMBER THREE? KRATOS IS DEAD! Dead? Yep, you’ve lost all your vitality in God of War 4 and Santa Monica have helpfully popped up a little message that says if you want your last checkpoint back from the clutches of Hades (or, you know, whoever) it’s 69p. Don’t laugh – that exact same thing appeared last week in an iPhone game, although it didn’t feature a muscle-bound bloke in a loincloth. And speaking of clothing: the costumes will be a quid each, unless you want to scrape around looking for thread and cotton.
JUST IN AT NUMBER TWO is Sly Cooper 5. The wee guy needs to creep around but everyone knows next-gen isn’t just about Teraflops and 4K resolutions, it’s about realistic leather wear and tear. Those softly-softly shoes won’t last you more than a couple of levels before the helpful cobbler window appears and demands real-world pennies in exchange for his precious time (and cow hide). It’s a serious business, and unless you’ve upgraded to the Nike Super Stealth 500s, this will be a constant, nagging reminder.
AND THIS WEEK’S NUMBER ONE is MotorStorm 4. Those festival tickets the previous games handed out willy-nilly with barely any regard for the fact that such a practice is single-handedly responsible for the destruction of our rainforests? You’ll need to pony-up this time. Oh, sure, they’ll hook you in with the first couple for free, that’s always how it works, but by the time you’re three tracks in it’s £1 per race. Unless you win. Oh, the meltdown will be glorious.
Did we miss any?
Paranoimia
“Thank you for purchasing this game.
Please press X to connect to PlayStation Network/Xbox Live and deposit £5 to continue loading.”
It’s coming.
blarty
What surprises me is why everyone is directing all their ire at EA over this, and not iOS for popularising the ‘penny shill’ method, sure we’ve had coin-operated machines in arcades for decades, but Apple have perfected the skill of paying far more than the price of the game to increase a simple counter in a game, be they lives or Gems or whatever.
But moreover, there is an issue in iOS games where the microtransaction is no longer optional, and a shortcut to playing the game more or grinding (and yes, in a way there should be some form of cost to taking a shortcut, monetary or otherwise), it’s now near necessary to even get halfway through most games.
KeRaSh
Good point. Probably the same people who are damning the next gen for these reasons exactly are the ones who try to tell everyone that mobile gaming is the future. How ironic.
Starman
At least the iOS games are free, then they make the money with in game purchases. With this (dead space 3) EA are trying to have it both ways, charge £45 for the game, then charge you in-game too.
KeRaSh
Bust most free to play games intentionally get you stuck at some point to force you to buy stuff. I’m sure you can play DS3 to the end without the need for any extra special weapons. We were able to beat DS1 and 2 without DLC weapons and armor, right?
This is essentially just that: DLC. The difference is that EA can hold it infront of your nose to show you that it exists, instead of relying on people to visit the PSN store or click on an ingame DLC menu.
hol
Kinda disappointing you chose to target Playstation exclusives here? Although I hope to god GT6 doesn’t make you buy fuel? I’ll be bankrupt! :(
Alex C
This is a PlayStation focused site!
hol
I know that ;)
sshaunss
Gta vi want to sleep with that hooker pay 69p then get arrested.
Motalla
Worse still, they set a bail for you to be paid in real currency or sentence you to virtual jail where you have to sit in real time ;-P
bunimomike
*writes blank cheque*
matthangzhou
Unless you killed her afterwards and got your 69p back.
dude90
Yeh I doubt that will ever happen, that would be the biggest turn-off.
Tuffcub
Sure IGP as these are games not apps.
freezebug2
GT6 pitstop, crew at the ready, lollipop man seemingly on drugs and gazing into space. “Lift the lolly and let me go you blithering twat, it’s 50p per second pitlane rental!!” :P
mugsybalone
Ah, so that’s how they’ll justify the inclusion of those little shopping-trip hatchbacks in the next GT. Fuel economy.
Death_In_Flamez
Not the funniest article but definitely highlighting this ever present issue in gaming nowadays. Personally I think the whole situation is overblown. The things in real gaming are purely optional. If you can’t wait, then don’t buy.
Bladesteel
Stop giving them ideas!
I’m convinced that all the game companies have been bought by the “you should all go outside and play” crowd, and they are now trying to ruin gaming forever.