funkystudent
Member
Yeah.
I am also expecting at least one person during the Q&A cosplaying as Ryan for extra awkwardness.
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Giant Bomb Thread #5 - We love you, Ryan Davis
- Thread starter Hot Coldman
- Start date
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Yeah.
I am also expecting at least one person during the Q&A cosplaying as Ryan for extra awkwardness.
Looking forward to the PAX panel this year but I'm kind of worried about how awkward the Q&A session could get if it's going to be a mixture of condolences for Ryan along with the usual weird questions. I'm expecting every person to say something like "Hi guys, so sorry to hear about Ryan. When I heard the news it felt like I lost a close friend. Anyway, do you think CDs make good pizza cutters?"
Oh god, the awkwardness is killing me already.
Looking forward to the PAX panel this year but I'm kind of worried about how awkward the Q&A session could get if it's going to be a mixture of condolences for Ryan along with the usual weird questions. I'm expecting every person to say something like "Hi guys, so sorry to hear about Ryan. When I heard the news it felt like I lost a close friend. Anyway, do you think CDs make good pizza cutters?"
I hope the cut the Q and A, that time is by far the worst part of Giant bombs content for the year.
Looking forward to the PAX panel this year but I'm kind of worried about how awkward the Q&A session could get if it's going to be a mixture of condolences for Ryan along with the usual weird questions. I'm expecting every person to say something like "Hi guys, so sorry to hear about Ryan. When I heard the news it felt like I lost a close friend. Anyway, do you think CDs make good pizza cutters?"
Yeah I'm really dreading this.
And for the record "do you think CDs make good pizza cutters?" sounds like a great question compared to what's been usually been asked.
Hot Coldman
Banned
I hope the cut the Q and A, that time is by far the worst part of Giant bombs content for the year.
That kind of interaction is why they do these panels. As awkward as they can be at moments, they've been adamant about the importance of getting to talk face-to-face with their fans.
Although, yes, I hope people don't go overboard with questions about Ryan or "the future of the site" or anything.
Yeah, it was odd they didn't look at one after decrying it. I think they thought the Pyramid was the same thing? They can still conclude that it sucks overall but it feels like a pretty important part of the equation to skip over.If Brad had clicked the star levels after they unlocked, he'd see they're all challenge levels with different stipulations (don't plant in the back two rows, collect a certain amount of sun power by stalling zombies, don't let zombies cross over a row of flowers on the map, use a specific group of plants, don't spend over a certain amount of sun power, etc.)
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
Hot Coldman
Banned
I guess this means the Jeff Green doomsday clock just went forward another hour
Plants vs Zombies went from being cute to diabolical between the first and second game, it seems.
Allow me to introduce you to a little company called Electronic Arts.
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
Ugh, that really sucks, thanks for the heads-up. Avoiding, then.
ShockingAlberto
Member
I don't quite understand why they didn't just make a regular version and a F2P version. $15 would have been a totally acceptable asking price to one of Popcap's most popular games and everyone else could microtransaction their way through or push through if they wanted to.
The only reason I can think is they hoped there would be people too stupid or too young to realize what they were doing and would get the $100 items and they wanted to maximize that potential group by having everyone do the Free to Play stuff.
Which, I don't care where you fall on the free to play fence, seems pretty sleazy.
The only reason I can think is they hoped there would be people too stupid or too young to realize what they were doing and would get the $100 items and they wanted to maximize that potential group by having everyone do the Free to Play stuff.
Which, I don't care where you fall on the free to play fence, seems pretty sleazy.
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
This is exactly the reason I'm not even playing it, even when I played PvZ on my PC for about 70 hours.
Fuck that.
I don't quite understand why they didn't just make a regular version and a F2P version. $15 would have been a totally acceptable asking price to one of Popcap's most popular games and everyone else could microtransaction their way through or push through if they wanted to.
The only reason I can think is they hoped there would be people too stupid or too young to realize what they were doing and would get the $100 items and they wanted to maximize that potential group by having everyone do the Free to Play stuff.
Which, I don't care where you fall on the free to play fence, seems pretty sleazy.
Offering transactions like that, even if can skip them and still enjoy the game is absolutely sleazy, but they don't really care because the Simpsons game proved they can get away with it pretty easily when they have a strong brand. That game isn't even fun to play like this one might be. It made something like 50 million+ for them with the same stupid model this one has.
funkystudent
Member
when are membership sales usually? I never use the coupon.
Maybe in September during the time BLLSL normally happens.
I have a feeling the show isnt happening this year though. Someone would have mentioned it by now.
Maybe they will still do a sale as a anniversary thing.
yuk. I just want to play $20 for the whole game popcap. Take my money. I can see why this is not out for PC.
Some things to consider.
Jeff Green is Popcap's best PR asset and I have not seen him promoting this anywhere.
Jeff Green is writing blog posts about how he wished he were still in games journalism.
Jeff Green - the journalist - would have shit all over this F2P model.
I can see a change of employment in the future for Mr. Green (sadly more likely not back to a press job).
Some things to consider.
Jeff Green is Popcap's best PR asset and I have not seen him promoting this anywhere.
Jeff Green is writing blog posts about how he wished he were still in games journalism.
Jeff Green - the journalist - would have shit all over this F2P model.
I can see a change of employment in the future for Mr. Green (sadly more likely not back to a press job).
Maybe in September during the time BLLSL normally happens.
I have a feeling the show isnt happening this year though. Someone would have mentioned it by now.
Maybe they will still do a sale as a anniversary thing.
Actually sales are usually not until thanksgiving and xmas. The year they moved to CBS they had a sale in March to promote the move. People complained that a lot of subs lapsed in september (signed up during BLLSL) and they had to pay full price or wait until november with no sub.
I do think they will do a big live show this year. I would wager they don't really want to do one and that it will have to be a very different format but I imagine it drives a lot of subs. So many subs will run out that month that if they don't put on a show I can see the numbers falling off a cliff.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Worth Playing this week was excellent. I'm spoilering this for people who haven't watched yet, but Save the Date is the best bit of
I've seen in a while.
Slave of God is a fairly accurate interpretation of a nightclub, yeah.
black comedy
Slave of God is a fairly accurate interpretation of a nightclub, yeah.
Ventilaator
Banned
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
Putting a couple plants behind a paywall, but making the game free, is an ugly value proposition. That doesn't make sense to me. The keys have a high enough drop rate and the stars you earn by playing the game. Literally the only thing you're losing because of the F2P model is access to a few plants. As far as F2P games go, that seems pretty good to me.
randomlyrossy
Member
is Alexis doing some kind of live stream this weekend? 24 hours of halo again or something?
He and Drew are planning to do another thing for Child's Play, I believe the big 24 hour marathon push is in October generally.
Oh, I wasn't even looking at that. I was just pointing out they want you to spend $100 on a free game.
apparently that's "completely fine".
Doesn't TF2 have a $100 ring that does nothing but send a message to everyone playing the game that you bought a ring? Just because an option is available doesn't mean you have to buy it.
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
The games free to play and you can get through most of the content without paying any money. There are plants behind a paywall, but they're not essential to completing the game. They're basically the same as any old add-on DLC. If it's not worth the price to a person they don't have to buy it.
It seems like someone was being a dick to you, and now you're trying to blow this out of proportion into a bigger issue than it actually is.
I'm not going to pretend the pay-for stuff is all amazing, but it's far from as heinous as everyone is making it seem.
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
As good as some of those plants were in PvZ1, they aren't required in PvZ2 at all. I got half way through the Pirate level and unlocked a lot of new plants (unique plants NOT from the first game) that are just as good or even better than the ones behind paywalls.
Just dominated Jeff's Kick with my Baz online
oh man you just brought back memories of the injustice tnt where jeff was undefeatable with his flash lol
It's not just the deceptive labeling on the transactions. The game also takes several of the fan-favorite plants from the first game and puts them individually behind paywalls that cost more than some entire games on the App Store. It's just an ugly value proposition all around.
I treat this like Bungie, Infinity Ward or any other developer out there that locks fan favorite weapons or maps behind their own respective pay walls. Do you cry foul when a developer releases map packs that contain fan favorites?
I haven't finished the game yet but these missing "fan favorites" are not hampering my experience whatsoever. I would go as far as to say those "fan favorites" would make the game too easy.
I'm enjoying PvZ2 at the moment. I can get the game for my iPhone and iPad (Yay iCloud support) without spending a dime and I haven't felt the need to spend virtual coin let alone real dollars in order to move forward.
Backfoggen
Banned
I need Vinny and Dave on all these new FMV games.
Yeah I'm missing Dave on these FMV games
Ventilaator
Banned
I treat this like Bungie, Infinity Ward or any other developer out there that locks fan favorite weapons or maps behind their own respective pay walls. Do you cry foul when a developer releases map packs that contain fan favorites?
Also this. Mass Effect 3 removes several absolutely vital missions from the game and sells them to you later. Still asking full price for what's left of the main game. Mass Effect 3 is game of the year.
PvZ 2 removes a couple of plants, but gives you the game for free. PvZ 2 is "an ugly value proposition all around." I realize the iffy comparison of a AAA game and a mobile game, but still. How does that make sense?
EDIT: Wait, it's not that bad of a comparison. Mass Effect 3 also totally had microtransactions.
Just tried out a bit of PvZ2 for myself. Everything else about the microtransactions seemed fine up until the plants being behind $3-5 paywalls. That just rubbed me the wrong way.
This is why I will have to do a lot of testing and internal experimentation before releasing sometime on the F2P model.
This is why I will have to do a lot of testing and internal experimentation before releasing sometime on the F2P model.
Also the fact they spent 3 years making pvz with a few new plants is dull.
PopCap has always taken enormous amounts of time to make anything, even the smallest iterations. I wonder how many developers they actually have on the books.
Also this. Mass Effect 3 removes several absolutely vital missions from the game and sells them to you later. Still asking full price for what's left of the main game. Mass Effect 3 is game of the year.
PvZ 2 removes a couple of plants, but gives you the game for free. PvZ 2 is "an ugly value proposition all around." I realize the iffy comparison of a AAA game and a mobile game, but still. How does that make sense?
EDIT: Wait, it's not that bad of a comparison. Mass Effect 3 also totally had microtransactions.
Saying "it's not as bad as Mass Effect 3" isn't saying much, when ME3 was one of the most vile products ever released.
Could be completely off-base, but can't help but feel Jeff Green's recent blog post was due to, at least in part, him seeing how this project he's worked for years is being monitised.
He's always proclaimed that he could only work for a company/service he believed in, so seeing this reaction must suck. He even tweeted out that Kotaku article telling people not to spend money on PvZ2.
He's always proclaimed that he could only work for a company/service he believed in, so seeing this reaction must suck. He even tweeted out that Kotaku article telling people not to spend money on PvZ2.
Doesn't TF2 have a $100 ring that does nothing but send a message to everyone playing the game that you bought a ring? Just because an option is available doesn't mean you have to buy it.
TF2 also started that whole "buy a key for this mystery box" bullshit I absolutely detest.
I hate all this stuff equally. It just comes across as kinda scummy to me.
SuperSonic1305
Member
lol best deal.
darkressurection
Banned
I just finished Gone Home and it was all right. I'm not sure where all the fuss is coming from tho. It sure is unique and I'm really glad I played through it but it's not really anything groundbreaking.
I also just finished it and I agree, it was a somewhat mediocre story told in an interesting way. I guess my expectations that I had personally built up from how they were talking about the game just didn't line up with what it actually was. I also feel that the price is kinda steep but that really just depends on the player. I am still interested to see what The Fullbright Company puts out in the future.
I also just finished it and I agree, it was a somewhat mediocre story told in an interesting way. I guess my expectations that I had personally built up from how they were talking about the game just didn't line up with what it actually was. I also feel that the price is kinda steep but that really just depends on the player. I am still interested to see what The Fullbright Company puts out in the future.
Yeah exactly. I agree for the price too. It's a neat experiment but it's not worth 20$.
I kept expecting turning around a corner and find the whole family dead or something. I know that this is what they were playing on the whole time but still. The whole hair dye thing in the bathroom was funny tho haha.
oh man you just brought back memories of the injustice tnt where jeff was undefeatable with his flash lol
I lost TWICE to him in that fucking TNT. I came really close both times though. Even got a shoutout from Ryan for being the closest up to that point.
darkressurection
Banned
Yeah exactly. I agree for the price too. It's a neat experiment but it's not worth 20$.
I kept expecting turning around a corner and find the whole family dead or something. I know that this is what they were playing on the whole time but still. The whole hair dye thing in the bathroom was funny tho haha.
I thought so too, I felt like the whole thing was kind of a big bait and switch. So much peripheral setup for what was essentially just a indie movie love story.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
So, Peggle 2. Do you guys think they'll let you buy extra balls at 99 cents a pop?
I can understand people having an ideological problem with F2P as it exists. There's no real arguing against that. From a functional standpoint, however, PvZ2 is just about the least obstructive F2P model available. You earn a ton of in-game currency through normal play; I have $21,000 in coins after playing maybe 30-35 levels, and powerups are 800 to 1200 coins a pop (I haven't purchased any so far; any wipes on levels just means I need to adapt my plant setup and build order).
And for folks who would rather just "buy" the game outright and not worry about the individual plant unlocks...would $15 or $20 be okay? Because here are the six plants available in the store:
Jalapeno: $3
Torchwood: $4
Snow Pea: $4
Squash: $3
Power Lily (new, this creates one Plant Food powerup): $3
Imitater (this is new, AFAIK, and it mimics any other plant): $3
So if you were staunch about having the plants from the original game, you can "buy" the game from the F2P "demo" for $14. Or if you want to just buy all of the optional plants, you can "buy" the game for $20. Granted, this is much, much more than the original PvZ on iOS (I remember buying PvZ1 for $2.99), but if you have some kind of mental block about it, the game is fully purchasable.
I don't know about balance completely, as I'm only on the second world, but the new plant types that are completely free and given to you in-game as you progress seem to give you just as many options for loadouts. And the star challenges really go a long way to forcing you out of any "I'm only taking these six plants for every single level" mentality, or at least the more compelling ones do. I almost always used potato mines (the single-use instakill plants that take a while to sprout), but if the challenge parameters require you to not lose a single plant, then using that plant will end the level once it dies off.
I think anyone who liked the first game owes it to themselves to at least try PvZ2 (it's free, anyway), run through the first set of 11 Egypt levels, and then start going through the challenges that you need to unlock the second world of levels. Give yourself an hour to try it and decide for yourself.
And for folks who would rather just "buy" the game outright and not worry about the individual plant unlocks...would $15 or $20 be okay? Because here are the six plants available in the store:
Jalapeno: $3
Torchwood: $4
Snow Pea: $4
Squash: $3
Power Lily (new, this creates one Plant Food powerup): $3
Imitater (this is new, AFAIK, and it mimics any other plant): $3
So if you were staunch about having the plants from the original game, you can "buy" the game from the F2P "demo" for $14. Or if you want to just buy all of the optional plants, you can "buy" the game for $20. Granted, this is much, much more than the original PvZ on iOS (I remember buying PvZ1 for $2.99), but if you have some kind of mental block about it, the game is fully purchasable.
I don't know about balance completely, as I'm only on the second world, but the new plant types that are completely free and given to you in-game as you progress seem to give you just as many options for loadouts. And the star challenges really go a long way to forcing you out of any "I'm only taking these six plants for every single level" mentality, or at least the more compelling ones do. I almost always used potato mines (the single-use instakill plants that take a while to sprout), but if the challenge parameters require you to not lose a single plant, then using that plant will end the level once it dies off.
I think anyone who liked the first game owes it to themselves to at least try PvZ2 (it's free, anyway), run through the first set of 11 Egypt levels, and then start going through the challenges that you need to unlock the second world of levels. Give yourself an hour to try it and decide for yourself.
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