Pokemon Shuffle's microtransactions explained, IAPs range from 89p to £42.99

[Nirolak]

Since I know some people are curious about how this exactly works.

Each attempt at a game round (think, a go at a Bejeweled level) costs you one heart, whether you win or lose. Pokémon Shuffle starts you off with five hearts.

Every 30 minutes you accrue one extra heart, up to a total of five. If your total is ever above five - for instance, if you have chosen to buy more using gems (obtainable with real-world money) - then the auto-accrue system prevents you from earning more.

Jewels, which are the things you'll actually pay for with real-world money, can be exchanged for extra in-game hearts and coins, the latter of which is Pokémon Shuffle's other currency. Jewels can be bought in various sized lumps, ranging from 89p for one up to £42.99 for 75.

One jewel is worth five hearts or 3000 coins, enough for a moderately powerful item. The more jewels you buy and spend, the better the conversion rate.

Coins can otherwise be slowly accrued by beating matches (100 per match) or in larger amounts from bosses.

Jewels are also - rarely - found in the game itself. We were awarded one for completing Shuffle's first main area, for example.

Rounds must be completed within a certain number of moves, although if you are struggling you can buy more moves or other help items with in-game coins.

The fewer moves you use the more likely it is you will catch the wild Pokémon at the end, or you can choose to buy stronger Pokéballs to raise the likelihood of capture.

Run out of moves altogether and the battle comes crashing to a halt. But there is a way out: you can spend a jewel to buy five more hearts and continue the battle where you left off, or lose your progress altogether.

Waiting the customary half hour for each extra heart stops your play sessions fairly quickly. I ran out of hearts after around 45 minutes on my first play session - but much of this was me just running through the game's tutorial, which includes dollops of free time and moves to keep you playing. Subsequent play sessions will last a lot less time.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-02-18-nintendos-free-to-play-pokemon-shuffle-launches

 

[Broken Joystick]

Thanks for posting, was curious myself.

 

[Brashnir]

remember when cheat codes were free?

 

[MCN]

Why, Nintendo? WHY????

 

[cw_sasuke]

That's like fifth Pokémon Shuffle thread today... Interesting. It's a good puzzler, you should check it out.

remember when cheat codes were free?

Were the games also free?

 

[Tizoc]

remember when cheat codes were free?

Maybe I'm missing something here but I don't see what cheat codes have to do with preventing you from not playing a game longer.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

remember when cheat codes were free?

Yes, but the games themselves were not.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

Nintendo is screwing this up. It should be like Chain Chronicle and P&D and be more forgiving with stamina/hearts. It would make boatloads of money.

 

[Brashnir]

That's like fifth Pokémon Shuffle thread today... Interesting. It's a good puzzler, you should check it out.

Were the games also free?

I'd rather buy a good game than play this garbage for free.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

I'd rather buy a good game than play this garbage for free.

Then don't play it. There are many, many good, paid, Nintendo-published games on the eShop.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Nintendo is screwing this up. It should be like Chain Chronicle and P&D and be more forgiving with stamina/hearts. It would make boatloads of money.

And you know how much money Pokémon Shuffle is making how exactly?

I'd rather buy a good game than play this garbage for free.

No one is stopping you.

 

[Barack Lesnar]

And you know how much money Pokémon Shuffle is making how exactly?

I just realized this is on 3DS. I thought it was on mobile. My point just got stronger.

 

[Brashnir]

Then don't play it. There are many, many good, paid, Nintendo-published games on the eShop.

And I'm not calling those games bullshit. This one is.

 

[Bony Manifesto]

So aside from 'energy' being consumed whether you beat the level or not, this is basically the same as every other F2P game, right?

 

[rpmurphy]

remember when cheat codes were free?

Not sure how this is similar to cheat codes. This is more like regressing to the coin-op days.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

And I'm not calling those games bullshit. This one is.

Because of IAP?

Seems to work like Candy Crush? It's only bullshit if you're somehow incapable of controlling your impulses to buy more gems or whatever.

 

[Shiggy]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

 

[Brashnir]

Because of IAP?

Seems to work like Candy Crush? It's only bullshit if you're somehow incapable of controlling your impulses to buy more gems or whatever.

Yes, Candy Crush is also a piece of garbage, but thanks for the deflection tactic.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

Eh, I get what you're saying but it's one game. If this becomes a trend with their digital titles, I'll be very upset. If not, I'm ok with a game like this every once in awhile. It looks like something fun to have on your system, playing it in-between more "meaty" experiences, of which there are many on the 3DS. I'll never pay a cent while playing this.

 

[nubbe]

Candy Crush at least has production value

Pokeman is such a simple ripoff cash grab it is disgusting

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Yes, Candy Crush is also a piece of garbage, but thanks for the deflection tactic.

I'm not defending Candy Crush or this game, but neither game seems like something I'm going to sit down and marathon anyway so the whole timer thing doesn't really bother me.

I have no idea how many levels are in Candy Crush either, but I managed to get in to the high ~100s without ever spending a dime on it.

 

[ZeroAKA]

Not a fan of these microtransactions, but I'm not too bothered by it. This seems like the type of game I'd play for 10 minutes at a time anyways.

Does this require an Internet connection?

 

[rpmurphy]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

That kind of went out the door with the badge collection game. That game is a pure wallet eater.

 

[Sir TapTap]

Pay or lose progress is extremely gross. Pay or wait is up there, too.Very disappointed in Nintendo for pursuing bog-standard exploitative monetization design like this. They used to act like they'd do better if they waded into f2p.

 

[JoeM86]

The annoying thing is price conversion.

For the highest purchase, the UK price is almost twice the converted price of the Japanese one. I was lucky to do my coverage on that one.

 

[ShadowElliot]

This seem like the type of game you can play before you sleep or when you're on the train. I played the first 5 stages and it's okay, but the prices... wow.

 

[Gonzo The Great]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

Nintendo fans also hated online play, HD graphics, and downloadable content. When corporations evolve, so do their apologists. This applies to pretty much every company in the industry.

 

[Jito]

Nintendo defence force....assemble! This is shitty and shouldn't be encouraged.

 

[tolkir]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

Remember when Nintendo sold 100 millions of Wii and DS? Sadly, not anymore.

Wii U isn't selling and they search other ways to make money. (Amiibo, F2P, themes, QoL, etc)

 

[hawk2025]

Nintendo fans also hated online play, HD graphics, and downloadable content. When corporations evolve, so do their apologists. This applies to pretty much every company in the industry.

Nintendo fans hated HD graphics?

In over a decade of message boards, I don't think I've ever seen that statement made.

Anyways, this seems like the bog-standard awful monetization of F2P games.

 

[Kouriozan]

Seems like a game I would play 5/10 mins everyday and then be bored a week later.

Not a fan of these microtransactions, but I'm not too bothered by it. This seems like the type of game I'd play for 10 minutes at a time anyways.

Does this require an Internet connection?

Nope, but you can connect to get some event stages.

 

[JazzmanZ]

Why, Nintendo? WHY????

But everyone wants Nintendo to go mobile!

 

[Plinko]

Nintendo defence force....assemble! This is shitty and shouldn't be encouraged.

If it is a small minority of games doing this, I have absolutely no problem with this. No "defense force" ridiculousness.

If this becomes their main way of making games, that's when I have a problem.

 

[Brashnir]

Nintendo fans hated HD graphics?

In over a decade of message boards, I don't think I've ever seen that statement made.

I remember a few circa 2006-8. Either hated them or said they were pointless or couldn't see the difference.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Is this game significantly different than Pokemon Battle Trozei?

 

[Vena]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

Pay or lose progress is extremely gross. Pay or wait is up there, too.Very disappointed in Nintendo for pursuing bog-standard exploitative monetization design like this. They used to act like they'd do better if they waded into f2p.

Nintendo sure gets thrown around a lot...

... for this being a TPC product/game.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Not a fan of these microtransactions, but I'm not too bothered by it. This seems like the type of game I'd play for 10 minutes at a time anyways.

Does this require an Internet connection?

Nope, no Internet connection needed.

Nintendo sure gets thrown around a lot...

... for this being a TPC product/game.

Not to be a dick, but many Gaffers and gamers in general stop thinking whenever they hear f2p. Which is fine since everyone is entitled to have its opinion, but it makes the discussion quite difficult.

 

[ZeroGravity]

Remember that if you don't like this, and haven't played Pokemon Battle Trozei, just go play that instead. It's a much better game anyway.

Is this game significantly different than Pokemon Battle Trozei?

No, they're pretty similar.

 

[entremet]

Seems like a gimme to investors wanting more F2P content, without affecting their flagship games.

I see no problem with this.

 

[Gonzo The Great]

Nintendo sure gets thrown around a lot...

... for this being a TPC product/game.

The Pokémon Company is still owned by Nintendo. Only GameFreak is independent. This whole idea that TPC could go rogue and take the Pokémon IP elsewhere without Nintendo's permission is pure nonsense. But no, Nintendo didn't oversea the development of this title.

 

[Shiggy]

Nintendo sure gets thrown around a lot...

... for this being a TPC product/game.

And who's the publisher of this game? Nintendo.
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-3DS-download-software/Pokemon-Shuffle-954388.html

 

[Quadraphonic]

F2P games should never have an IAP that costs more than the game would on its own.

$99 bundle of gems? Woohoo...

That's literally the cost of more than 2 AAA 3DS games.

 

[JoeM86]

Is this game significantly different than Pokemon Battle Trozei?

Battle Trozei is more action based. You have to constantly be moving your Pokémon to keep the combo. Shuffle is more strategic. When you make your move, you can't do anything until that combo is over.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Battle Trozei is more action based. You have to constantly be moving your Pokémon to keep the combo. Shuffle is more strategic. When you make your move, you can't do anything until that combo is over.

Cool, thanks!

 

[Exterminieren]

Gross.

Honestly, thank God Nintendo has some share of influence over the mainline Pokémon games. We'd have seen some heinous shit done with the franchise otherwise.

 

[Vena]

The Pokémon Company is still owned by Nintendo. Only GameFreak is independent. This whole idea that TPC could go rogue and take the Pokémon IP elsewhere without Nintendo's permission is pure nonsense. But no, Nintendo didn't oversea the development of this title.

You're building a needless strawman, TPC can't just go rogue with a brand owned by three autonomous parties (even if Creatures is effectively an extension of Nintendo). Nintendo partly owns the brand and so it remains on their machines (for the most part, TCG is all over the place), TPC is in charge of marketing, licensing, and managing the brand in its entirety, that is why it exists.

A small title like this, like Trozei, is all in the hands of TPC.

And who's the publisher of this game? Nintendo.
https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-3DS-download-software/Pokemon-Shuffle-954388.html

Nintendo published =/= Nintendo made.

 

[Lucumo]

Remember when Nintendo fans were happy to say that Nintendo isn't going this route? Or when they said that Nintendo is doing free to play in a customer friendly way?

Yeah, there we go.

Well, at least they aren't playing their "family-friendly" reputation trying to make easy money off of kids.

 

[Maintenance]

I remember a few circa 2006-8. Either hated them or said they were pointless or couldn't see the difference.

I've seen the same with 1080p TVs and X1 owners, so the legacy continues.

--

On topic, yeah this is bullshit. They are dumb enough to put this on 3DS, should've been mobile and watch the money flow.

I'm not advocating for Nintendo to go third-party, just put this one spin-off on mobiles to cash the money. They already put the Pokemon TCG on the iPad (barely, I know).

 

[Shiggy]

You're building a needless strawman, TPC can't just go rogue with a brand owned by three autonomous parties (even if Creatures is effectively an extension of Nintendo). Nintendo partly owns the brand and so it remains on their machines (for the most part, TCG is all over the place), TPC is in charge of marketing, licensing, and managing the brand in its entirety, that is why it exists.

A small title like this, like Trozei, is all in the hands of TPC.

Any source on that these Pokemon spinoffs are made completely independently? I think you are making that up. The bluetooth keyboard for Pokemon Typing Adventure was certainly not developed by Genius Sonority.

Nintendo published =/= Nintendo made.

Yeah, and? It's still a Nintendo game. Or do the recent Pokemon titles also not count as Nintendo products anymore? Really strange argumentation (or rather the lack thereof) on your side now.

Gross.

Honestly, thank God Nintendo has some share of influence over the mainline Pokémon games. We'd have seen some heinous shit done with the franchise otherwise.

Nintendo has an influence over this title too. They are shareholders of The Pokemon Company and Genius Sonority and Iwata was the Executive Producer of this title.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Well, at least they aren't playing their "family-friendly" reputation trying to make easy money off of kids.

If the transaction process is anything like Rusty's Real Deal Baseball (or anything on the eShop, really), kids aren't going to be easily or accidentally purchasing anything.